Thiruvananthapuram: The use of plastic carry bags with thickness below 50 microns will be banned in the city from July 1. This was decided at the first Corporation council meeting after the Assembly election. All plastic bags should now bear the Corporation hologram, said Health Standing Committee chairperson Sreekumar K. on Friday. The council has also put a ban on the use of flexboards on public roads.
The Central government had notified Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 in March. The rule had raised the thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 micron to 50 micron. The use of non-woven polypropylene and other non-recyclable plastics is also banned. The use of disposable plastics, containers and plates like plastic paper, polystyrene (Styrofoam/Thermocol) and tetra pak is also not allowed.
Food cannot be served in plastic sheets or packed in plastic covers. Aluminium foil and ecofriendly materials like banana leaf can be used towards this purpose. The Green Protocol, which was implemented in State School Arts Festival and Attukal Pongala, need to be followed in all celebrations within city limits – be it feasts or weddings.
Auditoriums and marriage halls will have to segregate their organic and non-organic waste. Disposable products and packaged drinking water will be completely banned at these places. In order to implement the plan, the Health Standing Committee will initiate awareness programmes till July 1. “We have not fixed any penalty on violators. We’ll start the campaign with awareness,” he said.
