No more free plastic bags in Kerala

KOCHI: No shops or traders in the state will now give plastic carry bags free of cost to customers as they have been asked by the state government to remit annual fees for using carry bags. Based on the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, issued by the Union ministry of environment and forest, all traders including street vendors have to provide fees - minimum of Rs 4,000 per month - to the local bodies.

The fees will be based on the quantity of carry bags which means in big malls and supermarkets the customers have to give a high price. No bags with a thickness below 50 microns will be allowed in any shops in the state. In a circular issued on September 24, the local self-government department has instructed all traders and shop owners including street vendors who use plastic carry bags to register with local bodies and to remit a minimum annual fee of Rs 48,000.

The civic authorities have been asked to issue a notification in this regard at the earliest. They can fix the amount of fee for each trader based on the quantity of carry bags they use. All shops have been instructed to erect display boards indicating that carry bags are not free of cost.