Tamil Nadu to ban use of plastic items from 2019

The Tamil Nadu government today announced it would ban the use of plastic items, including non-biodegradable carry bags, from January 2019 to "gift a plastic-free" state to future generations.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami's announcement in the state assembly coincided with International Environment Day today.

The ban on manufacture, sale, storage and usage of items such as plastic paper, cups, water sachets, straws and carry bags would come into effect from January 1, 2019, Palaniswami said.

The ban would cover these plastic articles irrespective of their micron size.

However, polythene sachets used for packing milk, curd, oil and medical equipment would be exempted from the ban, Palaniswami said.

The PMK, in a statement, said this is not the first time the state government was banning disposable plastic, recalling that late Jayalalithaa had made a similar attempt in 2002 as chief minister then.

Palaniswami said former chief minister Jayalalithaa had earlier constituted an expert panel to go into the issue of banning plastic products.

That panel had suggested banning disposable plastic products, including bags, plates and cups, and recommended that traditional items such as plantain leaves and plates made of palm leaves be used, Palaniswami said.

The chief minister said non-biodegradable plastic products, mainly polythene covers affect the environment, impeding water flow.

"When such disposable plastic items remain on the soil, it impedes water flow to water bodies, resulting in stagnation. It also affects the flow of sewage.

"Further, it prevents percolation of rain water into the soil, thus affecting the increase in underground water," he said in a statement.

The chief minister said when rainwater stagnates in strewn plastic waste, it results in breeding of dengue and malaria-causing mosquitoes.

He said while such waste contributed towards flooding, it has also affected soil quality.

Its burning also causes problems, he said, adding that plastic products contributed to various forms of pollution-- air, land and water.

Cattle feeding on such waste face the danger of death, the chief minister said.

"Since plastic is non-biodegradable it is not easy to destroy... Due to pollution of air, water and land, plastic becomes harmful for human life. Therefore, completely avoiding them is the need of the hour," he said.

"Considering the damage caused by plastic, and to ensure this is not left behind for future generations, the Amma government has decided to ban non-biodegradable plastic covers, plates, cups, water packets, straws and bags," he said.

However, plastic sachets used to pack milk, curd and oil, besides those used to wrap medical products,would be exempted from the ban, Palaniswami said.

The ban is brought under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and it would come into effect from January 1, 2019, to allow people to change over to using paper bags and other products made out of paper as substitutes to the plastic items facing ban, he said.

Palaniswami said people's participation in the past for a rainwater harvesting scheme introduced by Jayalalithaa had resulted in success, as it had led to better groundwater resources.

"Similarly, with the cooperation and contribution of all, let us gift a plastic-free Tamil Nadu for the future generations of the state," he said.

PMK founder S Ramadoss, who welcomed the announcement, recalled that Jayalalithaa had made a similar attempt in 2002 as then chief minister.

"This is not the first time the Tamil Nadu government is banning disposable plastic. On May 7, 2002 then chief minister Jayalalithaa had brought in a legislation in the Assembly for banning the use of plastic.

"However, on January 1, 2003, she withdrew that legislation without any transparent reason," he said in a statement.

The PMK founder said the Tamil Nadu should "determinedly implement" its latest announcement on plastic ban.