Thiruvananthapuram: The recent floods that devastated the state had exposed how plastic waste is degrading the environment. Many other states, including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, had banned single-use plastic products and disposables following flooding. As per statistics, Kerala produces over 400 tonnes of plastic waste daily and four percentage of the total waste generated in the state is plastic.
Though several months have passed since the floods, the state is hesitant to ban single-use plastic products. Though a special stakeholders' panel under the State Pollution Control Board was formed to give recommendations to bring down the usage of plastic, the state government is yet to take a final call.
PCB chairman K. Ajit Haridas told DC that the report mooted by the stakeholders' panel on the impact of plastic waste post- floods had been submitted to the chief secretary. "The chief secretary would call a meeting soon to discuss the report. It's purely a policy decision. However, the law doesn't mandate a ban on plastic. Scientific management of plastic is the only way out," he said.
The Tamil Nadu government last year announced a ban on plastic items, including non-biodegradable bags, in the best interest of environment. However, Kerala has landed in soup because plastic manufacturing is a booming industry with an annual turnover of Rs 2,500 crore. There are around 3000 small, medium and large-scale manufacturers in the state.
General secretary of Kerala Plastic Manufacturers' Association Tom J. Kallarackal said that it's a huge industry and a livelihood for thousands. "Many of the manufacturers have taken huge loans from banks to start the business and a ban overnight will ruin them. If the government decides to ban it, they should compensate the manufacturers," said Mr Tom. The authorities should also take steps to ban plastic products from the other states, he added.
