Is Chennai ready for a ban on plastic?

Watch this video to hear the varied reactions among different sections of Chennai society to the proposed ban on single use plastic from January 2019.

Tamil Nadu will be banning single use plastic and other biodegradables from January 2019. Not wishing to impose restrictions on unprepared citizens, the state government has given itself and its people a good six months before the ban kicks in and plans to conduct back-to-back campaigns over this period. From sensitising shopkeepers and consumers about switching to biodegradable bags to campaigning against plastic in schools, the civic body is leaving no stone unturned to ensure successful implementation.  

But, how are the people of the city reacting to the prospect of doing away with single-use plastic altogether? Responses have been mixed so far. While environmentalists are elated at the prospect, casual workers dealing in plastic waste stare at an uncertain future.

Citizen Matters talks to various people including plastic dealers, waste pickers and experts to understand their perspective.

Video and text by Aruna Natarajan and Laasya Shekhar

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Bengaluru’s APR-Ecoworld underlines the stark divide in our developing cities

Photo essay depicting the socio-economic divide inherent in developments like Adarsh Palm Retreat and Brookfield Ecoworld in the IT Corridor.

Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, is home to a number of technology parks. Amongst the largest is Brookfield Ecoworld, located in Bellandur where employees from across the city work. Adarsh Palm Retreat (APR), meanwhile, is a fancy apartment and villa complex located adjacent to this tech park’s entrance. APR and Ecoworld are typical examples of the nexus that developed between office/commercial complexes and upscale housing for white collar workers during the Information Technology (IT) revolution in the city. It addressed a definite need among select sections of the population, but a closer look reveals the clear divide and inequities…

Similar Story

Implement existing rules to save Mumbai: NAGAR appeal to candidates

Pollution control, conservation and augmentation of open spaces will be key to Mumbai's quality of life, says NAGAR's election appeal.

Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and faces many challenges - from shrinking open spaces, rising pollution to serious climate change impact as a coastal city. We, at NAGAR, (NGO Alliance For Governance Advocacy Renewal), have been advocating and championing the cause of open spaces in Mumbai to ensure a better quality of life for all citizens for over two decades.  As assembly elections approach us, we would like to draw the attention of voters and candidates towards some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed urgently.  We hope that when the…