Tamil Nadu ministers propose exemption of paper cups from banned plastics

Guwahati: Tamil Nadu is to undergo a complete plastic ban from the first day of the New Year. However, as stated by the Minister for Environment K. C. Karuppannan, there are chances that paper cups may be exempted from the plastic ban order. If this gets to happen then paper cups will continue being in function with no place for the plastic made things in the state.

Karuppannan made this announcement while addressing a meeting of the regional-level coordinators at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board head office. The reason behind exempting paper cups from among the plastic products is that such cups use to have just 6% plastic in it which is nothing but the coating on the paper. Hence, the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had to consider the representations made by various associations requesting for an exempt of the paper cups.

Along with the paper cups, there are some other things also which are under consideration and may be exempted from the ban. There are some kinds of non-woven handbags that come with bamboo handles and are mostly used by textile shops. As these bags can be reused rather than use and throw. Moreover, the government is also encouraging the companies to set up units through which power can be generated from garbage.

As plastic is one of the major components creating pollution in the world and also fetching several environmental issues, this has been the need of the day to learn to handle plastic and in fact, avoid using it. Tamil Nadu is thus, making sure that plastic is completely banned from the state.

Minister for Fisheries D. Jayakumar, while speaking about the threat plastic carries towards creating pollution in the oceans, pointed at the deaths of the whales, sharks and other inhabitants of the ocean due to the consumption of plastic.

Jayakumar added, “Microplastics have been found inside fish and even humans. We need to take drastic steps to reduce pollution.”

In contrary to the proposed exemption of the paper cups, representatives of plastic manufacturers associations have however questions to be raised on the matter. G. Sankaran and B. Swaminathan have questioned, “The same logic would apply to several other banned items. In the same breath, the government can order an increase in the thickness of shopping bags so that they can be reused.” Mr. Sankaran added. “What is applicable to paper cups can be applied for all banned items from the perspective of hygiene.”

Well, the final decision is yet to be taken and only time will say as to what conclusion comes out at the end.

Also read: Restriction on use and sale of plastic