KOZHIKODE: A ban on plastic carry bags below 30 microns in thickness was enforced in the city limits from Monday. Henceforth, Kudumbasree volunteers engaged in door-to-door collection of garbage will not collect the plastic carry bags from households. Standing committee chairman on Health Kanangot Haridas has directed the Kudumbasree units not to collect the banned plastic bags. The households would have to seek their own ways and means to dispose of the plastic bags.
Vegetable and fruit shops, fish markets and slaughter houses have been directed not to use the bags for packing. Two years ago, the Corporation had enforced a ban on the use of carry bags or containers made of recycled plastics less than 30 microns for storing, carrying, dispensing or packing foodstuff. However, the ban was not effective. Now the civic body finds it difficult to recycle the plastic waste from households. The recycling plant located on the Corporation land near the West Hill Industrial Estate had become defunct. The plastic waste had also accumulated in the area. Earlier, the residents had opposed the dumping of waste in the region by Kudumbasree units. This prompted the Corporation to enforce the ban on plastic bags from March 1.
Punishment
Offenders would be booked under various sections of the Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 in the city from April 1. The fine would be Rs.500 for first-time offenders. However, it would be Rs.5,000 for the offence committed a second time, Rs.10,000, third time and Rs. 25,000 fine and six-month jail term for fourth-time offenders. Those littering and burning of plastic waste in public places would be fined Rs. 2,000, officials said. However, the Corporation has decided to keep in abeyance a rule not to collect garbage from hotels and restaurants from Monday. The hotels had been earlier asked to set up their own biogas plants to dispose of the waste materials.
Hotels have been directed to establish the biogas plants within three months. Hotels functioning in rented buildings have been asked to get the facility of ready-made biogas plants to dispose of the garbage. From April 1, the Corporation will engage squads to conduct raids and seize plastic bags from shops. Random checks will be carried out in commercial establishments. Legal action would also be initiated against those littering garbage in public places.
The licences of shops found guilty of selling or dispensing the banned carry bags would be cancelled on the basis of the Licensing of Dangerous and Offensive Trade and Factories Rules. Six years ago, the Corporation enforced the ban on plastic carry bags below the thickness of 20 microns as part of the Model Solid Waste Management Programme. In 2006, the civic body banned carry bags below the thickness of 30 microns. However, the ban was not enforced strictly. Later, the Pollution Control Board asked local bodies in the State to strictly comply with the ban on plastic carry bags below the thickness of 50 microns. A circular to this effect was also issued to the Corporation. But it was embroiled in legal issues.
Source: The Hindu, Dated:02.03.2010
Vegetable and fruit shops, fish markets and slaughter houses have been directed not to use the bags for packing. Two years ago, the Corporation had enforced a ban on the use of carry bags or containers made of recycled plastics less than 30 microns for storing, carrying, dispensing or packing foodstuff. However, the ban was not effective. Now the civic body finds it difficult to recycle the plastic waste from households. The recycling plant located on the Corporation land near the West Hill Industrial Estate had become defunct. The plastic waste had also accumulated in the area. Earlier, the residents had opposed the dumping of waste in the region by Kudumbasree units. This prompted the Corporation to enforce the ban on plastic bags from March 1.
Punishment
Offenders would be booked under various sections of the Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 in the city from April 1. The fine would be Rs.500 for first-time offenders. However, it would be Rs.5,000 for the offence committed a second time, Rs.10,000, third time and Rs. 25,000 fine and six-month jail term for fourth-time offenders. Those littering and burning of plastic waste in public places would be fined Rs. 2,000, officials said. However, the Corporation has decided to keep in abeyance a rule not to collect garbage from hotels and restaurants from Monday. The hotels had been earlier asked to set up their own biogas plants to dispose of the waste materials.
Hotels have been directed to establish the biogas plants within three months. Hotels functioning in rented buildings have been asked to get the facility of ready-made biogas plants to dispose of the garbage. From April 1, the Corporation will engage squads to conduct raids and seize plastic bags from shops. Random checks will be carried out in commercial establishments. Legal action would also be initiated against those littering garbage in public places.
The licences of shops found guilty of selling or dispensing the banned carry bags would be cancelled on the basis of the Licensing of Dangerous and Offensive Trade and Factories Rules. Six years ago, the Corporation enforced the ban on plastic carry bags below the thickness of 20 microns as part of the Model Solid Waste Management Programme. In 2006, the civic body banned carry bags below the thickness of 30 microns. However, the ban was not enforced strictly. Later, the Pollution Control Board asked local bodies in the State to strictly comply with the ban on plastic carry bags below the thickness of 50 microns. A circular to this effect was also issued to the Corporation. But it was embroiled in legal issues.
Source: The Hindu, Dated:02.03.2010
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