Thiruvananthapuram: The city mayor and the district collector have received a representation, endorsed by 14 organisations based here, seeking a ban on the use of all use-and-throw plastic items. Their letter says, “The use of thin carry bags, straws, and other low quality plastic materials need to be stopped. The availability of these in shops prompts the public to continue using them.” Stopping the burning of plastic, protecting the coastline of Thiruvananthapuram from plastic pollution and restarting an awareness campaign on segregation are some other suggestions.
Their appeal says, “The need of the hour is to remove plastic from the sight so that it vanishes from the Earth too.” The signatories are Sakhi Women’s Resource Centre, Tree Walk Thiruvananthapuram, SEWA, SEWA Union, Friends of Marine Life, Indus Cycling Embassy, Sustainable Technologies in the Community, Protsahan, Abhinaya Theatre Research Group, Manaveeyam Theruvora Koottam, HUMANS, Sthreekootayma, MBS Youth Choir and Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi.
In March 2016, the city corporation had banned the use of plastic carry bags (including non-woven polypropylene bags) as well as disposable plates and glasses. The ban does not cover other one-time use materials like straws. Plastic raids which were conducted in shops prompted many a shop to turn to carry bags made of cloth and other eco-friendly alternatives. However, recently the civic body has not conducted any major plastic raids.
