The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation is planning to impose a blanket ban on all disposables including cutlery and plastic carry bags irrespective of thickness soon.
The civic body is in the process of finalising a bylaw for waste management in accordance with State government guidelines and plans to implement it by January next year.
Corporation health officer R.S. Gopakumar said the ban would apply to all kinds of carry bags, be it polyethene or polypropylene.
“Dumping of waste wrapped in such bags has turned out to be a headache for the corporation. By banning carry bags themselves, were are taking a step towards checking waste dumping,” he added.
The corporation has suggested replacing plastic carry bags with cloth bags. “We are not against plastic bags that are long-lasting and reusable. It is just the single use plastic that is problematic,” Dr. Gopakumar said.
Meanwhile, the corporation is planning to revamp its waste collection system by roping in a national player. “An accredited agency experienced in waste management will be brought in. Collection of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste will be brought under the agency. Residents will have to pay a specific amount for the process,” Dr. Gopakumar said.
BPL households will be excluded from payment of waste collection charges, while the rest will be divided into three slabs and charged accordingly.
“With this, the cleaning staff of the corporation’s health wing will be free to do the job they are supposed to do, including road sweeping, drain cleaning, and general cleaning of the city, instead of collecting waste-filled carry bags dumped in various parts of the city,” he said.
While the previous bylaw of the corporation for waste management was shot down by the State government, the new guidelines issued by the State to all local bodies maintain that they are free to rope in private companies for waste management if needed, and that no further government sanction is required.
There will be ward-level waste management committees under the health inspector of each division, while the corporation-level committee will have nine directors including five representing the company that takes up the job.