The Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board has issued a statement iterating that carry bags used for the purpose of carrying or dispensing commodities essentially made from high polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, vinyl, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene resins etc. are strictly banned in the state. This includes woven bags and ruffian bags, said the statement.
“Plastic carry bags in the name of ‘woven bags’ or ‘Ruffian bags’ are widely available among the vendors, shopkeepers and commercial establishments such as textile shops, super markets, shopping malls etc., for dispensing flower, food, vegetables, groceries, textiles, etc. These single-use plastic items or disposable plastics are used only once before they are thrown away and littered. These littered plastics are of no value and cause a huge threat to living beings on land and marine life on water bodies like lakes/ rivers/ seas and oceans. These single use plastics are also banned. The manufacture, selling and distributing of these plastics is a violation as per the Notification on Ban on Single Use Plastics issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu,” detailed the statement.
TNPCB also looked forward to the public’s cooperation and support in not using the prohibited single use plastics and carrying cloth bags everywhere they went.
