MARGAO
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes on Friday said the Margao Municipal Council will phase out the first category of single use plastic items in the three-stage ban, such as plastic sticks used in balloons, flags, candy, ice-cream and ear buds and thermocol that is used in decorations.
He said the second category proposed to be banned from July 1, 2022, includes items such as plates, cups, glasses and cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping and packing films used in sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, stirrers and plastic banners that are less than 100 microns in thickness.
A third category of prohibition is for non-woven bags below 240 microns in thickness and is proposed to start from September 30, 2022, he added.
Speaking to the media after an awareness programme on single use plastic held in the Margao Municipal Council Hall by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in joint collaboration with Department of Urban Development (DMA) and Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) on Friday, the Chief Officer said the MMC also resolved to use wooden or bio disposable cutlery and ceramic, glass ware or mud pottery instead of plastic water bottles for their meetings and functions.
A speaker gave a brief deliberation on what is single use plastic (SUP), what are its impact on the environment, health, marine life and how to curb use of SUP in day-to-day life.
The resource person said the ULBs are required to ensure segregation, collection, storage, transportation and processing and disposal of the waste and further ensure channelisation of recyclable plastic waste fraction to recyclers create awareness among the society by involving NGOs, SHG and Citizens alike.
The Chief officer said stress will be laid on the use promotion of Cloth, paper and jute bags, adding that open burning of plastic waste will be totally prohibited in the Municipal jurisdiction.
To a question, he said Municipalities across Goa, GSPCB & Pollution control committee are authorized to conduct raids and will impose strict penalty and spot fines of Rs 500 on waste generators & spot fine of Rs 5000 on institutional waste generators as per GSPCB guidelines and stricter enforcement of SWM, PWM rules 2016 and Model municipal solid waste (management & handling) bylaws 2020.
Dr Mohan Girap Scientist from GSPCB and Miss Eleane Da Costa, SWM Cum IEC Expert GSUDA were the resource persons for the talk.
