Page 62 - Plastics News June 2018

in the news

Tamil Nadu to ban use of plastic items from 2019

he Tamil Nadu government today announced banning percolation of rain water into the soil, thus affecting the
Tuse of plastic items, including non-biodegradable bags, increase in underground water,” he said in a statement.
from January 2019 in the interest of the environment and The chief minister said when rainwater stagnates in strewn
to “gift a plastic-free” state to future generations. Chief plastic waste, it results in breeding of dengue and malaria-
Minister K Palaniswami’s announced in the state assembly. causing mosquitoes.He said while such waste contributed
“Considering the damage caused by plastic, and to ensure towards flooding, it has also affected soil quality.Its
this is not left behind for future generations, the Amma burning also causes problems, he said, adding that plastic
government has decided to ban non-biodegradable plastic products contributed to various forms of pollution-- air,
covers, plates, cups, water packets, straws and bags,” land and water.Cattle feeding on such waste face the
he said. However, plastic sachets used to pack milk, curd danger of death, the chief minister said.”Since plastic
and oil, besides those used to wrap medical products, will is non-biodegradable it is not easy to destroy... Due to
be exempted from the ban, Palaniswami said. The ban is pollution of air, water and land, plastic becomes harmful
brought under an environmental protection act of 1986 for human life. Therefore, completely avoiding them is
the need of the hour,” he said.Palaniswami said people’s
participation in the past for a rainwater harvesting scheme
introduced by Jayalalithaa had resulted in success, as it
had led to better groundwater resources.

Himachal to ban use of thermocol

imachal is going to impose a complete ban on
Hthermocol plates, cups, glass and other things made
of the material. Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur announced
this at a function at Sundarnagar on occasion of World
and it would come into effect from January 1, 2019, so
as to allow people to change over to using paper bags and Environment Day.The CM said that HP was the first state
other products made out of paper as substitutes to the in country to impose a ban on plastic. Almost 15 years
plastic items facing ban, he said. The ban would cover after blazing a trail in the country by prohibiting usage
these plastic articles irrespective of their micron size. of polythene bags, Himachal Pradesh announced a ban
However, polythene sachets used for packing milk, curd, on the use of thermocol plates and glasses in the state
oil and medical equipment would be exempted from the as they were a major cause of pollution. The government
ban, Palaniswami said.The PMK, in a statement, said this also banned plastic water bottles less than one-litre
is not the first time the state government was banning capacity at official functions. Making the announcement
disposable plastic, recalling that late Jayalalithaa had at a function to
made a similar attempt in 2002 as chief minister then. mark the World
Palaniswami said former chief minister Jayalalithaa had Environment Day at
earlier constituted an expert panel to go into the issue Sundernagar town
of banning plastic products.That panel had suggested in Mandi district,
banning disposable plastic products, including bags, Chief Minister Jai
plates and cups, and recommended that traditional items Ram Thakur said
such as plantain leaves and plates made of palm leaves the government
be used, Palaniswami said.The chief minister said non- had realised the
biodegradable plastic products, mainly polythene covers severity of plastic
affect the environment, impeding water flow.”When such bag usage in daily
disposable plastic items remain on the soil, it impedes life and the way it
water flow to water bodies, resulting in stagnation. It contributed to polluting the environment. He further said
also affects the flow of sewage.”Further, it prevents the current water crisis in the state had its roots in the
usage of plastic and its indiscriminate dumping in rivers.

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