Ward which banned plastic in Dec reaps benefits now

Byatarayanapura, located off Ballari Road in northern Bengaluru, was one of the first wards to ban the use of plastic. The plastic ban movement was launched here as early as in December 2015, three months before the official ban, and the result is showing.

A majority of traders and supermarkets have switched to paper cups and cloth or jute bags. There are fewer dumping yards and black spots in the locality.

Local corporator P V Manjunath Babu launched the plastic ban movement with support from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and local residents. There were regular raids on shops that use plastic, along with public awareness programmes.

Families Mart supermarket at Coffee Board Layout, Kempapura, gives customers two options: rent a bag from the store or bring cloth/paper bags from home. A small cloth bags is priced at Rs 3. The large ones can be rented for Rs 15, Rs 20 and Rs 30.

“Customers can rent large bags and get the full cashback when they return them. Most customers now bring their own bags, especially after the official ban on plastic,” said Jamsheer, an employee at the supermarket.

But the situation in the ward is all not rosy. Palike officials and RWAs say some people still use plastic and dump garbage at public places.

“We are raiding shops. Traders are co-operating but some citizens, even the educated lot, don’t care to segregate waste or shun plastic,” said Hemchand J, a member of Netajinagar Residents’ Welfare Association.