Page 64 - Plastics News June 2019

IN THE NEWS

Ban all single-use plastic, says Plastic shredding centre

Chandigarh’s Department of inaugurated at Gurugram

Environment
he Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG)
n a bid to make Chandigarh completely plastic-free, the Tinaugurated its plastic shredding centre at
IDepartment of Environment, Chandigarh, has mooted Begumpur Khatola. According to officials, the machine
a proposal to ban all plastic products that can only be has the capacity to shred 800 kilograms of plastic per
used one time. These items include disposal plates, small hour, and five tonnes of plastic per day.MCG officials
spoons, water bottles, straws and other such products said they have plans to increase its capacity to 10
that cannot be reused after being used once. The proposal tonnes per day soon. “After cleaning the plastic at
has been sent to the UT Administration for final approval the centre, it will be shredded into small pieces and
and the decision in the packed and sent to a bitumen mixer plant. At the
matter is likely to be plant, the bitumen and plastic will then be mixed for
taken. The Department the purpose of constructing plastic roads,” SS Rohilla,
o f E nv ir o nment, public relations officer (PRO) of the MCG, said. The
Chandigarh, under the project has been established by a Bengaluru company.
supervision of Director MCG officials said that the company will also establish
of UT Department of plastic purchase centres where residents can sell one
Environment Debendra kilogram of plastic for Rs 6. In December last year, the
Dalai, also mentioned MCG had laid a 100-metre plastic road, a prototype,
in the proposal that in Sector 51. “This machine will not only help improve
plastic water bottles
less than 1 litre in size should be banned. A member of the environment by recycling plastic but also create
the department said, “Large plastic bottles are mostly sturdy roads that are more durable,” Yashpal Yadav,
reused by people for storing water in their homes. But
small bottles of 250 ml, small plastic covered water cups,
straws and disposable plastic bags cannot be reused after
their usage one time. We are of the opinion that instead of
destroying these items at a later stage, we should just ban
their usage. The proposal was sent to the UT Administration
for final approval in beginning of May itself. However, as the
Model Code of Conduct was in the effect, no decision was
taken on it.”Dalai further said, “As per notification under
Section 5 of Environment (Protection), 1986, implemented
in Chandigarh in 2008, only the use of polythene, plastic
bags are prohibited in Chandigarh. Apart from it, there is commissioner, MCG, said. The commissioner added
no ban on any other plastic products in the UT.” Chandigarh that Constant work is being formulated in making the
Administration is already facing wrath from National city polythene-free, under the Non-Biodegradable
Green Tribunal (NGT) for not submitting its respective Waste Control Act, 1988. The MCG has appointed teams
action plan on systematic disposal of plastic waste to the in each of the four zones under this act to monitor
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) despite the passing the usage of polythene. The biggest contributor to
of deadline of April 30, set by the NGT. Chandigarh is
among 25 states/UTs that failed to submit the action plan environment pollution is polyethylene, which is a major
and may have to pay environmental compensation of Rs 1 factor in sewers and drains being choked, leading to
crore. Meanwhile, the UT Department of Environment also water-logging. In addition, officials are also carrying
released a pictorial book containing big-sized pictures of all out campaigns and apprising residents of the harmful
items that are harmful to the environment on International effects of polythene and advised to carry jute or cloth
Environment Day on June 5. bags for carrying items.

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