Thiruvananthapuram: The State Pollution Control Board has published a list of banned plastic items and alternatives. With this, the dispute between the traders and the officials of the local bodies has been resolved due to the plastic ban. The use of plastic containers for packing food items and covers for wrapping food items above 50 microns is allowed. The dispute regarding these two plastic products has been going on for some time.
A central decision banning single-use plastics below 50 microns came into effect on July 1. Since the introduction of the ban, the health department officials of the local bodies have been inspecting the business establishments and imposing fines on various criteria. Following this, the All Kerala Disposable Dealers Association approached the board.
As per the board’s list, the following are the banned plastics:-
Plastic shopping bag, plastic carry bag, plastic or plastic coated paper to glass, plastic-coated paper plate, plastic straw, plastic coated paper leaf, plastic spoon
Plates, cups, and decorative items made of thermocol, and plastic garbage bags (hospital use).
Prohibited plastics include candy sticks, earbuds with plastic sticks, balloon with plastic sticks, invitation cards wrapped in plastic, cigarette packet, sweet box, drinking water packed in bottles less than 500 ml, non-branded plastic juice packets, PVC flex material, and cloth with plastic cover.
Plastics recommended in the list instead are Compostable carry bags, cloth bags, paper bags Polylactic acid (PLA) coated paper cups Paper plates Paper straws Plastic containers Wooden spoons, steel spoons Compostable garbage bags Cover above 50 microns for packing groceries and snacks.
