Bengaluru Leads Fight Against Single-Use Plastic, Will Seize And Use In Laying Roads

Continuing its fight against single-use plastic, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will implement a ban on the use of cling film and plastic cutlery by app-based food delivery companies and online grocery stores in Bengaluru.

The plastic ban will be implemented as per the Solid Waste Mangement (SWM) bye-laws from September 1.

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The BBMP SWM bye-laws maintains that ¡°strict action will be taken to close and seal the premises/ suspend or even cancel the trade licence of those violating shops and establishments who continue to use banned plastic even after repeated warnings¡±.

The online delivery apps are now required to should shift from plastic packaging to reusables or encourage the public to use their own cutlery.

The civic body maintains that the plastic bags, boxes, spoons, cling wraps and cutlery that come with home delivery of food and grocery are a big source of plastic waste in the city.

It had prohibited the use of single-use plastic in all its offices in 2018.

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According to the Indian Express, the BBMP Council had earlier passed a resolution to cancel the trade licences of shops and commercial establishments continuing to use plastic bags. In September 2018, the city civic body had issued special guidelines to wedding and banquet halls, banning plastic and had recommended the use of steelware.

In the meanwhile, the civic body has already seized numerous plastic objects from various shops.

Now, the Bengaluru International Airport has come up with a solution to the seized plastic. The airport will use it as an additive while laying roads, reported the News Minute.

The airport is currently undergoing expansion and will take over the plastic seized by BBMP to lay the roads within its premises.