The Indian state of Tamil Nadu – home to 80 million people – strongly supports the state government’s ban on throwaway, single-use plastics such as carry bags and cups.
The Plastic Pollution Free Tamil Nadu Campaign is popular with the people
The south Indian state of Tamil Nadu seems to be quickly putting itself on a green path by curbing plastic pollution, despite being the latest state to ban single-use plastic. What has been perhaps most surprising and encouraging is the support and cooperation between the government and the people for the campaign.
Single-use plastics continue to be widely used in almost all the states across India
With India playing host, Beat Plastic Pollution was the theme of the World Environment Day last year.
The campaign urges governments, industry and communities to come together and explore sustainable alternatives to plastics.
However, single-use plastics continue to be widely used in almost all the states across India.
This is despite 25 states and union territories in the country having some form of ban on the use of single-use plastic for years now.
But the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu seems to be quickly putting itself on a green path by curbing plastic pollution, despite being the latest state to ban single-use plastic.
Ranked as 11th largest state by area and sixth largest state by population in India, Tamil Nadu began 2019 on a green note with the state government’s order (issued on June 5, 2018) of the ban on single-use plastics taking effect from January 1 under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Source: IndiaClimateDialogue.net
The government has suggested eco-alternatives to plastic
The banned items include plastic carry bags, plastic sheets, plastic plates, plastic coated teacups and tumblers, plastic straws, plastic flags and plastic water pouches irrespective of thickness.
The state government has imposed a ban on:
- manufacture
- storage
- supply
- sale
- and use of throwaway plastic
And instead has been promoting alternatives such as:
- paper, cloth and jute bags
- plantain leaves
- Areca nut plates
- paper rolls
- lotus leaves
- glass/metal tumblers
- bamboo, wooden, ceramic and clay products
Source: IndiaClimateDialogue.net
Close cooperation between the people and the government has made the campaign a success
But what has been extraordinary about this official ban on single-use plastic is the role being played by the people for weeding out plastic from Tamil Nadu’s markets and, in effect, from its land and water bodies.
The cooperation of people with the government for successful implementation of the ban is quite visible in the markets.
Shopkeepers are selling products in paper and cloth bags, while most of the customers can be seen carrying jute bags and other reusable bags for purchasing grocery and other items.
Some shopkeepers have even started offering a slight discount if people carry their own bags.
It is worth noting the strategy adopted by the Tamil Nadu government for successful implementation of the ban. The state government provided a transition period of six months, from June 5, 2018 to January 1, 2019, for everyone to get accustomed to the new eco-friendly alternatives to plastics.
TheTamil Nadu government has plans for taking further decisions to ban all kinds of plastics and impose heavy fines on those who don’t comply.
But so far, the need of imposing fines has not been necessary as people are willingly cooperating.
How plastic bags are going out of use is already quite apparent given that community dustbins now contain no plastic bags as compared to their heavy presence before the ban was implemented.
Source: IndiaClimateDialogue.net