Thiruvananthapuram: The state government reiterated that there is a complete ban on plastic carry bags, including those made of compostable materials, in the state. Though the government has exempted product-attached straws from the ban, it banned plastic sapling bags.
The latest clarification comes in the wake of a decision taken by a task force, which was constituted to address concerns and complaints regarding ban on plastic in the state. The task force, headed by principal secretary, department of environment, had met on January 28 and February 4 to discuss various issues raised through representations by organizations and review the general situation after the plastic ban. The exemption for compostable materials shall be applicable only for grow bags and garbage bags meant for segregation and collection of biomedical waste.
The task force noted that the market is being invaded by fake compostable carry bags and both the public and shop owners find it unable to identify actual compostable carry bags and it defeated the very purpose of the plastic ban.
Even though the government had issued a clarification specifically for the use of compostable carry bags listing down alternative materials that could be used as substitutes for the banned single use plastic items, compostable bags continued to be in use as carry bags.
In the order issued to clarify use of compostable carry bags, the government had mentioned that carry bags whether made of compostable materials or other materials were banned and instead only cloth or paper bags are allowed to be used as carry bags.
In the new order, there is an exemption for grow bags as compostable materials can be used. The government has said that compostable products should bear the details of the manufacturer, marketing agency, material specification, date of manufacture, batch number, CPCB approval details with license number and validity in the form of QR code. The product shall bear the title ‘this is a purely compostable product’ written in English and Malayalam.
The latest clarification comes in the wake of a decision taken by a task force, which was constituted to address concerns and complaints regarding ban on plastic in the state. The task force, headed by principal secretary, department of environment, had met on January 28 and February 4 to discuss various issues raised through representations by organizations and review the general situation after the plastic ban. The exemption for compostable materials shall be applicable only for grow bags and garbage bags meant for segregation and collection of biomedical waste.
The task force noted that the market is being invaded by fake compostable carry bags and both the public and shop owners find it unable to identify actual compostable carry bags and it defeated the very purpose of the plastic ban.
Even though the government had issued a clarification specifically for the use of compostable carry bags listing down alternative materials that could be used as substitutes for the banned single use plastic items, compostable bags continued to be in use as carry bags.
In the order issued to clarify use of compostable carry bags, the government had mentioned that carry bags whether made of compostable materials or other materials were banned and instead only cloth or paper bags are allowed to be used as carry bags.
In the new order, there is an exemption for grow bags as compostable materials can be used. The government has said that compostable products should bear the details of the manufacturer, marketing agency, material specification, date of manufacture, batch number, CPCB approval details with license number and validity in the form of QR code. The product shall bear the title ‘this is a purely compostable product’ written in English and Malayalam.
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