Page 59 - Plastics News February 2018

IN THE NEWS

TMC to install plastic balers for Total ban on plastic bags not

easy recycling feasible say Kerala government

he Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has decided complete ban on plastic carry bags cannot be
Tto install plastic balers in the city for efficient A imposed in the State at one stroke as it will cause
management and recycling of plastic wastes. In it’s bid hardships to people, according to an affidavit filed by
to obtain the ‘smart city’ tag, the TMC initiated a number the State government in the Kerala High Court The
of measures recently for the proliferation of greenery government said that time was needed to make available
in Thane. After initiating measures such as making fuel affordable biodegradable alternatives to plastic. As of
now, such alternatives were not commonly available.
Besides, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,
did not empower the government to totally ban plastic
carry bags. In fact, the State government cannot issue
separate rules for the ban on plastic carry bags. The
High Court had earlier expressed displeasure over the
State government’s failure to comply with the court
directive to ban all types of plastic carry bags in the
State.

The court had asked the State government to take a
positive decision on the issue when the petition filed
from recycled plastic and testing a solar-autorickshaw, by S. Seetharaman, secretary of the Aluva-based All
the civic body is bolstering its effort to manage plastic Kerala River Protection Council, came up for hearing.
wastes. Although, there are a string of rules to reduce
plastic usage in the city, the plastic waste menace seems
to be uncontrollable with plastic bags, bottles and packets
flooding the city’s garbage output. To control the plastic
litter, the TMC will install four plastic balers. “The balers
will compress the plastic which will make melting it
easier for recycling units,” said Sunil Chavan, additional
municipal commissioner of TMC.
Using plastic balers for easier recycling is a worldwide
practice. In Thane, the plastic balers will be installed at
crowded areas like railway stations, ST bus stands, market The affidavit added that the State government had
areas among other locations within the next three months. taken measures to control burning of plastic and
The deposited plastic will be compressed and further sent made it an offence punishable under law. In fact,
to TMC’s recycling unit at Kopri. “Then, the plastic balers the government had been encouraging production of
will be used to make fuel or other products,” said Chavan biodegradable alternatives such as cloth/paper bags
by Kudumbasree units.
The Thane Municipal Corporation has decided to install
plastic balers in the city for efficient management and Earlier on its way to be declared as complete
recycling of plastic wastes. Although, there are a string of ‘plastic-free’ zone soon. As an initial step, the City
rules to reduce plastic usage in the city, the plastic waste Coroporation had imposed a blanket ban on all types
menace seems to be uncontrollable with plastic bags, of plastic carry bags within its limits but it now stands
bottles and packets flooding the city’s garbage output. challenged. Besides plastic the corporation had
carry bags, use of plastic sheets, multi-layer plastic
It is to be noted that Maharashtra is all planning to ban
plastics The state government has started preparations to covers, disposable plates and glasses and packaged
ban all kinds of plastic bags along with a few other plastic commodities were also banned.
items and state environment minister Ramdas Kadam will
be meeting heads of all the local bodies

59 Feb ruar y 2018 Plastics News