Schools tell students not to bring plastic bottles, tiffin boxes
MADURAI, DECEMBER 24, 2018 00:00 IST
Plastic manufacturers say the move is unwarranted
With the ban on single-use plastic proposed by Tamil Nadu government coming into force from New Year, some schools in Madurai district have gone a step ahead to ban even plastic water bottles, and lunch boxes, which are not in the list of banned items.
While the schools are projecting this as a move towards a plastic-free environment, entrepreneurs involved in manufacturing of these products have termed it an unwarranted move that would result in loss of employment to large number of people.
A government-aided school in Kamarajar Salai, for instance, had specifically asked all its students to buy only copper bottles instead of plastic bottles.
“The copper bottles are quite expensive, ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500. All the students were asked not to bring plastic bottles from last month as they wanted to declare the campus plastic-free,” said the parent of a student.
Acknowledging that the school had asked all students not to bring plastic bottles and lunch boxes, R. Kanmani, Correspondent and Senior Principal, Dolphin Matriculation Higher Secondary School, said the initiative was part of proactive steps being taken by the school to discourage use of plastics and to become environment-friendly.
“Every year, we introduce one new measure. This year, we have done this,” she said.
Condemning such initiatives being taken by certain schools, A. Gajendran, past secretary, Tamil Nadu Plastic Manufacturers’ Association, said the move was unnecessary as the polypropylene used in plastic bottles and lunch boxes were thick and food-grade.
“They are completely safe and can even be used in microwave ovens. Banning these items in schools, where it is used in large numbers, will result in loss of jobs. It will also be a burden on parents, who have to opt for expensive alternatives,” he said.
Clarifying that plastic bottles and lunch boxes are not part of the items to be banned from January 1, Rajendra Ratnoo, Commissioner for Disaster Management and one of the three nodal officers appointed by the State government to effectively implement the ban, said that such initiatives by schools could be recommendatory but not mandatory in nature.
MADURAI, DECEMBER 24, 2018 00:00 IST
Plastic manufacturers say the move is unwarranted
With the ban on single-use plastic proposed by Tamil Nadu government coming into force from New Year, some schools in Madurai district have gone a step ahead to ban even plastic water bottles, and lunch boxes, which are not in the list of banned items.
While the schools are projecting this as a move towards a plastic-free environment, entrepreneurs involved in manufacturing of these products have termed it an unwarranted move that would result in loss of employment to large number of people.
A government-aided school in Kamarajar Salai, for instance, had specifically asked all its students to buy only copper bottles instead of plastic bottles.
“The copper bottles are quite expensive, ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500. All the students were asked not to bring plastic bottles from last month as they wanted to declare the campus plastic-free,” said the parent of a student.
Acknowledging that the school had asked all students not to bring plastic bottles and lunch boxes, R. Kanmani, Correspondent and Senior Principal, Dolphin Matriculation Higher Secondary School, said the initiative was part of proactive steps being taken by the school to discourage use of plastics and to become environment-friendly.
“Every year, we introduce one new measure. This year, we have done this,” she said.
Condemning such initiatives being taken by certain schools, A. Gajendran, past secretary, Tamil Nadu Plastic Manufacturers’ Association, said the move was unnecessary as the polypropylene used in plastic bottles and lunch boxes were thick and food-grade.
“They are completely safe and can even be used in microwave ovens. Banning these items in schools, where it is used in large numbers, will result in loss of jobs. It will also be a burden on parents, who have to opt for expensive alternatives,” he said.
Clarifying that plastic bottles and lunch boxes are not part of the items to be banned from January 1, Rajendra Ratnoo, Commissioner for Disaster Management and one of the three nodal officers appointed by the State government to effectively implement the ban, said that such initiatives by schools could be recommendatory but not mandatory in nature.
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