Use of banned plastic carry bags after January 26 to attract fine

Concerned at the continuing use of banned plastic carry bags, the district administration as well as the city corporation has set January 26 as the deadline for traders, distributors and vendors to stop circulating carry bags less than 50 micron thick. Traders found violating the ban thereafter would face heavy penalties and even cancellation of licence.
The rationale behind the move is to prevent non-recyclable plastic carry bags from being abandoned along with waste and finding their way to water bodies. With the city corporation aiming to make it big in Swachh Survekshan 2018, the district administration had recently insisted that it act tough against use of banned plastic carry bags.
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It was district collector K Rajamani, in consultation with Trichy Corporation, who set the January 26 deadline for weeding out poor quality plastic carry bags. "Instead of abruptly asking the traders to refrain from using plastic carry bags below the permissible level of thickness, we have given them adequate time to voluntarily dispose of plastic carry bags less than 50 micron thick. Before January 26, traders should pursue alternative solutions to replace the banned carry bags," K Rajamani told TOI.
In this regard, the district administration and the urban civic body have planned a series of sensitisation meetings from the first week of January for the stakeholders. Traders and dealers selling plastic carry bags will be asked to find alternative measures such as cloth bags and other environment friendly bags.
The district collector added that organisations which are keen to sponsor and support the distribution of environment-friendly cloth bags and other portable bags would be roped in for the drive. "After January 26, frequent raids would be conducted across the city to seize the banned plastic carry bags. If the circulation of poor quality plastic bags recurs despite multiple warnings, we would cancel the licence of the shop and if required seal the units," he said.
Apart from the cooperation of traders, behavioural change on the part of the public was cited as the need of the hour by the civic body. "If residents refuse to accept plastic carry bags, traders would not invest in purchasing them," a civic body official said.

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