<p>Upping the ante in the battle against plastic use, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to ban the plastic cutlery used by app-based food delivery companies in Bengaluru. </p>.<p>The civic body will soon issue a notification directing app-based food aggregators to stop using plastic items for packaging.</p>.<p>Speaking to <span class="italic">DH</span>, BBMP special commissioner Randeep D said the companies will be given “time till March 31” to shift from “plastic packaging to reusables or encourage the public to use their own cutlery”.</p>.<p>“If the food delivery apps fail to adhere to rules, the BBMP will take action along with reporting to regulatory authorities like the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB),” he said.</p>.<p>The plastic bags, boxes, spoons and cutlery that come with home delivery of food are a big source of plastic waste in the city. The civic body has banned using of plastic above 40 microns in the city. Last year, the BBMP had banned all single-use plastic in its offices and civic initiatives, in a step towards reining in the plastic menace.</p>.<p>In July 2018, the BBMP Council had passed a resolution to cancel the trade licences of shops and commercial establishments continuing to use plastic bags.</p>.<p>In September 2018, the civic body had issued special guidelines to wedding and banquet halls, banning plastic and had recommended the use of steelware.</p>.<p>For the last few months, BBMP health department officials have been raiding shops, malls, and hotels using plastic materials in violation of rules, cancelling the trade licences in some cases. </p>.<p>Wilma Rodrigues, CEO and founder, Saahas Zero Waste, said, “App-based food aggregators have to study the regulation and follow it. They have to get clarification from the BBMP and KSPCB to implement the eco-friendly packing rule successfully to curb pollution by plastic.”</p>
<p>Upping the ante in the battle against plastic use, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to ban the plastic cutlery used by app-based food delivery companies in Bengaluru. </p>.<p>The civic body will soon issue a notification directing app-based food aggregators to stop using plastic items for packaging.</p>.<p>Speaking to <span class="italic">DH</span>, BBMP special commissioner Randeep D said the companies will be given “time till March 31” to shift from “plastic packaging to reusables or encourage the public to use their own cutlery”.</p>.<p>“If the food delivery apps fail to adhere to rules, the BBMP will take action along with reporting to regulatory authorities like the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB),” he said.</p>.<p>The plastic bags, boxes, spoons and cutlery that come with home delivery of food are a big source of plastic waste in the city. The civic body has banned using of plastic above 40 microns in the city. Last year, the BBMP had banned all single-use plastic in its offices and civic initiatives, in a step towards reining in the plastic menace.</p>.<p>In July 2018, the BBMP Council had passed a resolution to cancel the trade licences of shops and commercial establishments continuing to use plastic bags.</p>.<p>In September 2018, the civic body had issued special guidelines to wedding and banquet halls, banning plastic and had recommended the use of steelware.</p>.<p>For the last few months, BBMP health department officials have been raiding shops, malls, and hotels using plastic materials in violation of rules, cancelling the trade licences in some cases. </p>.<p>Wilma Rodrigues, CEO and founder, Saahas Zero Waste, said, “App-based food aggregators have to study the regulation and follow it. They have to get clarification from the BBMP and KSPCB to implement the eco-friendly packing rule successfully to curb pollution by plastic.”</p>