Nagpur: A team of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), on Thursday, seized a stock of 200 kgs of single-use plastic (SUP) items from a warehouse of Big Basket of Tata Sons in Nagpur. The team, led by MPCB Regional Officer A M Kare, conducted a raid on the warehouse of Big Basket in Wadi.
The team seized 200 kgs of ear buds, garbage bags and straws. “It is surprising that corporate companies like Tata Enterprises are unaware about the SUP ban and they are still selling such plastic items online even after 20 days of the ban,” Anand Katole, Sub Regional Officer (SRO), MPCB, said. “We have seized plastic items from the warehouse and served a notice to the company. No other action has been taken as it will be given time to dispose of the banned stock,” said Katole.
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In another raid, a team of MPCB seized 1,200 kgs of SUP from Balaji Golden Transport Company, Khadgaon Road, Wadi, on Thursday. The team seized plastic spoons and cutlery items made up of SUP. After implementation of the ban on SUP, MPCB is conducting regular raids in and around Nagpur. MPCB has conducted seven raids so far in Nagpur in which it has seized three tonnes of SUP.
“We are regularly conducting raids on the basis of tip-offs. Such operations will continue in future also,” said the SRO. After seizing SUP from markets, the Board sends it to Government authorised recyclers in the city. There are about 13 authorised recyclers in the city who recycle SUP and send the multilayered plastic to cement factories to scientifically burn it at the place of coal for cement manufacturing.
The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) imposed a ban on the disposable plastics that are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled, like earbuds, cigarette packs, sweet boxes, candy and ice cream sticks, PVC banners under 100 microns. Even after restrictions on SUP, the disposable plastics are available in the markets. MPCB and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are conducting raids frequently. Still more public awareness is needed to curb the menace.
