Kochi corporation to curb app packs

KOCHI: The Kochi corporation has woken up to the growing use of non-biodegradable packing materials by the app-based food delivery companies and has decided to apply relevant rules from April 1 to curb their use. 

As per the decision of the Corporation health committee, the use of plastic/Styrofoam tea cups, glasses, plastic utensils, cutlery, PET bottles, plastic coated paper cups, plastic coated carry bags and plastic carry bags will be strictly restricted, irrespective of their thickness and size.  

"The indiscriminate use of plastic packaging materials by online food companies is a major challenge," said V.K Minimol, former chairperson of health committee. "The health committee has proposed a series of measures to address the issue ahead of which a meeting with representatives of food app companies has to be convened."

As the app-based food delivery firms are big hit with thousands of food packets being served in offices, commercial firms and households every day in Kochi and suburbs, the huge quantity of plastic packaging materials discarded has turned to be a challenge for the civic bodies.  The one-time use plastic containers and cutlery add up to the plastic garbage generated in the city and outskirts.

The city and suburbs are already sending nearly 150 tonnes of plastic waste to Brahmapuram waste treatment plant every day.

Food delivery companies like Swiggy, Uber Eats and Zomato are using disposable packaging materials in Kochi though the companies have announced plans to introduce eco-friendly meal-trays and other items in other metros.

Meanwhile, Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), in an effort to minimise use of plastic, is planning to introduce eco-friendly materials for food packaging. "Considering the huge quantity of non-biodegradable materials used for food packets, we are planning to entrust the responsibility of packaging with the online food companies," Azeez Moosa, the Association’s Ernakulam district president. “They should identify alternative and reusable materials for food packaging. The ongoing state conference of KHRA at Kozhikode is discussing the topic.”