Ban on disposable plastic items

by admin — last modified 2008-01-22 11:44

The Hindu 22/1/2008

It will come into effect soon in city: Corporation officials

Photo: M. Periasamy

MESSY HAUL: The ban on plastics may reduce the abuse of underground drainage. —

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore Corporation council on Monday passed a resolution to ban manufacture, stocking, sale and use of disposable or non-recyclable plastic items in the city. It will come into effect soon, Corporation officials said.

Fine

The Corporation would impose a fine of Rs. 5,000 on manufacturers of non-recyclable plastic items such as carry bags, cups, tumblers and table spreads. The resolution also made it clear that the ban was necessary as these items, which were below 20 microns, could neither be recycled nor disposed of like bio-degradable waste.

The wholesalers would be fined Rs. 2,500 and the retailer Rs. 750.

The Corporation also decided to penalise the users at the rate of Rs. 100 for each offence detected.

This was aimed at eliminating the demand for these plastic items. The resolution also recalled that the Corporation had imposed a ban in March 2001 on the use of these items in marriage halls, cinemas and community centres.

With the firm view that there must be a ban on the use across the city, the Council’s Standing Committee on Health approved this at its meeting on January 9, this year.

It was then brought to the Council on Monday for clearance.

Full-scale operations

The civic body had been planning the ban for sometime, ever since it began full-scale operations at its compost yard in Vellalore to flatten huge mounds of accumulated waste.

The menace of plastics was evident at the yard, with carry bags clinging on to every shrub, tree and the fence. The Corporation was also upset that plastic bags, cups and bottles were dumped into underground sewers and these caused bursts in the lines.

The resolution moved in the Council pointed out that when layers of plastic bags and other items accumulated in the soil, these prevented the percolation of water during rain. This affected the ground water table, it said. Animals died after consuming bags containing leftover food.