How genuine are the alternative bags?
CHENNAI, JANUARY 18, 2019 00:00 IST
Bagful of problems:CPCB says action will be taken against erring manufacturers.File Photo
Users say they go by the makers’ claims
With the plastics ban in place, restaurants, shops and commercial establishments are going in for alternatives. But they are not sure whether the alternative bags are eco-friendly or bio-degradable as claimed by the manufacturers.
“Bio-degradable also includes compostable stuff but some items may require certain conditions like higher temperatures of not less than 60 degree Celsius or a suitable inocula. The term compostable means within 60-120 days the covers or cups should break down into compost,” said ecologist Sultan Ahmed Ismail. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently listed four units in Tamil Nadu that had not taken the requisite permissions from them.
“We found three of those units in Ambattur and one in Chennai. Our officials will be visiting them sometime this week and we will take necessary action,” said a source in the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Trusting labels
Anna Nagar resident T.K. Pandian said that many shops were using bags that resembled plastics but with stickers saying they can be used and that they were eco-friendly. “We can only trust what is mentioned on the bags. The local bodies must ensure that companies manufacturing alternatives are popularised,” he said.
The CPCB website lists only three companies as certified manufactures/sellers for compostable carry bags/products in the State.
Milk retailer S.A. Ponnusamy said that in such cases, traders should not be penalised for using such bags since they may buy them out of ignorance.
Tamil Nadu Hotels Association secretary R. Srinivasan said that hotels can only rely on certification that the bag supplier provides.
CHENNAI, JANUARY 18, 2019 00:00 IST
Bagful of problems:CPCB says action will be taken against erring manufacturers.File Photo
Users say they go by the makers’ claims
With the plastics ban in place, restaurants, shops and commercial establishments are going in for alternatives. But they are not sure whether the alternative bags are eco-friendly or bio-degradable as claimed by the manufacturers.
“Bio-degradable also includes compostable stuff but some items may require certain conditions like higher temperatures of not less than 60 degree Celsius or a suitable inocula. The term compostable means within 60-120 days the covers or cups should break down into compost,” said ecologist Sultan Ahmed Ismail. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently listed four units in Tamil Nadu that had not taken the requisite permissions from them.
“We found three of those units in Ambattur and one in Chennai. Our officials will be visiting them sometime this week and we will take necessary action,” said a source in the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Trusting labels
Anna Nagar resident T.K. Pandian said that many shops were using bags that resembled plastics but with stickers saying they can be used and that they were eco-friendly. “We can only trust what is mentioned on the bags. The local bodies must ensure that companies manufacturing alternatives are popularised,” he said.
The CPCB website lists only three companies as certified manufactures/sellers for compostable carry bags/products in the State.
Milk retailer S.A. Ponnusamy said that in such cases, traders should not be penalised for using such bags since they may buy them out of ignorance.
Tamil Nadu Hotels Association secretary R. Srinivasan said that hotels can only rely on certification that the bag supplier provides.
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