Koyambedu Wholesale Market in Chennai, one of the largest wholesale flower and vegetable markets in Asia, is bustling with activity on a busy weekday morning. Trucks full of goods arrive as workers unload bags of vibrant flowers into bright blue plastic covers. In other places, as night falls, people return home after work. Along the way, many stop at roadside carts to buy vegetables. A woman reaches into her purse and realizes she forgot to bring a carry-on bag. She asks the seller for a plastic case, but he shakes his head. Just as she starts to walk away, he pulls out a stash hidden under his cart and hands her a flimsy plastic cover.
It has been six years since the Tamil Nadu government imposed a ban on single-use plastics (SUPs). The ban on products such as carrier bags, food wrapping films, plastic plates, straws and bags came into effect on January 1, 2019. It aims to reduce the growing health and environmental dangers posed by plastic waste. The harmful impact of plastics is no longer deniable, as plastic waste clogs waterways, clogs storm drains and contributes to flooding. The environmental cost is severe, affecting wildlife and contaminating ecosystems. However, a casual walk down any street or market in the state will likely show these items in circulation.
S. Manickam, a 50-year-old pushcart salesman, describes the challenge of avoiding SUPs. “I don’t make much in a day and if I don’t sell the product, it will go to waste. What can I do?” A. Ajmir, owner of a butcher shop in Chennai, says, “No one comes with their own container for meat, so I have no choice but to give them the black lids. I try to limit it to two per client.” Specifically, there has been some progress in reducing the use of plastics in recent years. While supermarket and restaurant chains have largely abandoned SUPs, these items are commonly found in everyday life. C. Thiruvettai, president of the Chennai District Street Vendors Association, says there is a misconception that most plastic waste in cities and towns comes from street vendors. He notes that the plastic covers distributed by street vendors represent a small fraction of the waste, much of which comes from pre-packaged products manufactured by large corporations.
Pointing out the irony of carrying cloth bags to buy products packaged in plastic covers, Thiruvettai says there has been a significant cultural shift towards consumption since industries took over production, distribution and sales. In the past, most people bought goods in small quantities from street vendors, and items were often sold loose, wrapped in newspapers or sheets, but this is not the case now, he says. It acknowledges that while the use of plastic coverings declined in the early years of the ban, it has increased among street vendors in recent years, in part due to lax police enforcement.
A step towards change
To support the implementation of the ban and promote the use of alternatives, the government launched Meendum Manjappai on December 23, 2021. The campaign aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution, encourage the use of cloth bags and enforce the ban of the SUPs. The term is a reference to the ubiquitous yellow cloth bag that people carried when shopping. As part of the campaign, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Management Board installed manjappai vending machines in public places, collaborated with self-help groups to produce cloth bags and inspected shops for plastic use. A 2024 study on campaign effectiveness, conducted by the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG) with 1,632 respondents in eight districts, showed that a major challenge in switching to alternatives is that they are often expensive and difficult to find. . People in both urban and rural areas face similar problems: plastics are easy to obtain, but there are no alternatives. Market vendors, although aware of the dangers of plastics and the ban, rely on SUP bags due to customer demand and the high cost of alternatives. “Can you see packets of water anywhere these days? Or thermocol plates,” asks S. Chandrasekaran, environmental engineer at TNPCB. He sees this as the success of prohibition, so far, in eliminating these two products from use.
In Ramanathapuram, the opening of the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi-Arichalmunai road led to a major influx of plastic waste into the ecologically smart marine environment. In June 2023, Jagdish Bakan, district forest officer at the time, established a “plastic management point” in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, with the participation of the local community, to prevent unnecessary plastics from entering. to the ecosensitive zone. Vehicles are inspected for plastic, items are collected and tourists are given eco-friendly cloth bags. An environmental levy of Rs 20 per four-wheeler funds the initiative, while plastic is recycled for road construction, generating income and promoting sustainability. “The initiative meant an appreciable and visible reduction in the use of plastics,” says Bakan.
Despite such initiatives, law enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly in regions such as the Nilgiris. Shobana Chandrashekar, coordinator of the Make Ooty Lovely Project, says enforcement of the ban was strict until about two years ago, largely because supportive locals kept up pressure on authorities. “It’s exhausting,” he says, adding that three collectors have changed in the last two years. “At some point, the effort must be self-sustaining.” He adds that district administrators must recognize the positive impact of the ban on the environment and take steps to maintain it.
Although technically all plastics are recyclable, a significant portion does not reach recycling centers. On the one hand, plastic covers, bags and straws are still used and, on the other, pre-packaged food products have become increasingly prevalent in today’s consumption-driven economy, synchronizing with the existing culture of overconsumption. When one thinks of SUP, flimsy plastic covers often come to mind, but it’s essential to include items like packets of chips, cookies, and other products. This is where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) comes into play. Requires brand owners, importers and manufacturers to manage post-consumer waste. However, researchers say companies often take advantage of loopholes to evade liability.
From neighboring states
According to official data, the TNPCB has closed 240 plastic manufacturing units since the ban came into effect. Many of these manufacturers have reportedly turned to eco-friendly alternatives. However, TNPCB president M. Jayanthi acknowledges that controlling the flow of plastic covers into Tamil Nadu from neighboring Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry remains a major challenge.
Health Secretary Supriya Sahu says implementing a plastic ban is a complex task and its impact will not be fully achieved in three years. “We have been dealing with the onslaught of plastic for over five decades, so expecting an immediate change is not realistic,” says Sahu, who spearheaded the Meendum Manjappai campaign when it was launched in 2021. “We are still in the initial stage. transformation phase. “The main objective of the campaign has been to raise public awareness, but the government is continually working to create a more substantial impact.” It also points out that although the State has enacted a ban, the lack of uniformity in its application throughout the country contributes to the presence of plastic.
However, the challenge of controlling plastic waste is not just about enforcing the law, but also about shifting the focus from waste management to overall reduction of plastic production. Thiruvettai suggests that the government provide eco-friendly alternatives to street vendors for a year to help change the mindset of both vendors and consumers.
Madhuvanthi Rajkumar, author of the CAG study, highlights the need to shift the focus from the plastic consumption stage to the production and manufacturing of pellets. Attention now tends to focus on consumers, particularly at the consumption and dispersion stages, as these are the most visible aspects of the problem. However, this approach overlooks the root cause: how plastics are produced, he says.
Ms Rajkumar, who plays an honorary role in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Children and Youth Core Group, says almost half of India’s plastic polymers are used to make single-use plastic products. . Regulations should be extended to manufacturing of granules and polymers, and not just plastic products, he says, adding that although Tamil Nadu has made progress in regulating plastic bag production, centralized measures are needed to address the entire supply chain.
He points out that while consumers are blamed for prioritizing convenience, the real problem lies in how corporations, especially multinationals, have flooded South Asian markets with cheap, non-recyclable plastic products over the last 40 to 50 years. “These products, which range from shampoo to coffee containers, are typically multi-layer plastics. On the contrary, in the countries where these companies are based, you will only find recyclable options. “This shows a double standard: these companies flood South Asian markets with waste, while avoiding responsibility for its disposal,” he adds.
Steps forward
Jayanthi says the TNPCB did not just stop the ban but is continuing action on the ground, including special enforcement drives, as mandated by the Central Pollution Management Board. These campaigns are carried out four days a month. Official data shows that the TNPCB has closed 240 plastic manufacturing units since the ban, many of which have switched to manufacturing eco-friendly alternatives. However, the flow of plastic from neighboring States remains a major challenge.
She says recommendations were made in the eco-alternative conclave held by the TNPCB in November 2024, in which various State Pollution Management Boards and government departments of Tamil Nadu participated. One way to strengthen enforcement of the ban is to delegate authority to multiple agencies, such as in Maharashtra, where 21 departments share jurisdiction. Expanding enforcement to include agencies such as the Departments of Sales Tax, Forestry and Tourism could ensure more comprehensive compliance.
According to a document outlining the outcome of the conclave, local authorities could take inspiration from Odisha’s model of plastic-free picnic spots by designating key tourist sites and public places as plastic-free zones. These areas would be supported by awareness campaigns and strict law enforcement measures. Policies similar to Himachal Pradesh’s buyback scheme, which offers Rs 75 per kg of non-recyclable plastic, could be introduced to help the casual sector participate in waste collection. Finally, expanding initiatives like Delhi’s Vikalp stores, where customers can borrow and return reusable bags, could promote the use of eco-friendly alternatives.
Published – January 5, 2025 12:03 am IST
