Chennai: A day after the plastic ban was enforced, Greater Chennai Corporation on Wednesday continued to collect plastics from vendors and public, thereby ensuring that plastic will not be used.
The public seems to have accepted the ban, officials say. “We have seen people bring their own boxes and carry bags in the last two days. Some are uncomfortable with the alternatives as they may be a slightly more expensive option but will understand its sustainability in the long run," said an official of the corporation.
Traders and hoteliers, continue to be iffy. "How do we parcel liquids like sambar and rasam that cannot be packed in banana leaves. Restaurants gave parcels in cloth bags and food was wrapped in banana leaves and newspapers. How can we afford it?" said a hotelier in T. Nagar.
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials and the corporation have said they conducted random checks at 19 units on Tuesday in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. " We ordered cloth bags in bulk that cost us two times higher than plastic bags. In all, 25 per cent of my profits went in purchasing the cloth bags. If we try to recover the cost by charging for the cloth bag or by raising the price of vegetables, we will lose customers, how do we make the change to these alternatives without incurring losses?" asked Rajan, a vegetable seller.
