Tamil Nadu announces ban on plastic items, effective from 2019
What's the story
On "International Environment Day", the Tamil Nadu Government announced a ban on the use of plastic items, including non-biodegradable bags, from January 2019 to "gift a plastic-free" state to future generations. CM Palaniswami said Late CM Jayalalithaa had earlier constituted an expert panel that suggested banning plastic products and recommended using traditional items like plantain leaves and plates made of palm leaves. Here's more.
Demerits
Plastic products contribute to various forms of pollution
Palaniswami said non-biodegradable plastic products, mainly polythene covers, affect the environment, impeding water flow. Burning of plastic products also causes problems, he said, adding they contribute to various forms of pollution: air, land, and water. "To ensure this is not left behind for future generations, the Amma government has decided to ban non-biodegradable plastic covers, plates, cups, water packets, straws, and bags," he said.
People's participation
Ban will work with people's contribution
The ban is brought under a 1986 environmental protection act and it would come into effect from January 1, 2019, so as to allow people to adopt the change of using products made out of paper, CM Palaniswami said. He said this ban can be successful with the contribution of people, recalling people's participation for a rainwater harvesting scheme by Jayalalithaa resulting in success.
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Not all plastic products are banned
Plastic sachets used to pack milk, curd, and oil, besides those used to wrap medical products, however, will be exempted from the ban, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.