MCC to set up ‘Green Shops’ to prevent usage of plastic

In an effort to avert the use of harmful plastic materials and to provide a platform to self-help groups to sell eco-friendly products, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is planning ‘Green Shops’ in all its nine zones of the city.

Initially, two shops will be opened at the two zonal offices of the MCC. Later, the shops will be opened in remaining seven zonal offices.

“Several women’s self-help groups are involved in producing eco-friendly products such bags made of cloth and paper. The MCC has planned to provide them market space to sell the items. The initiative will serve two purpose — empower women and make the city plastic-free. While the MCC will provide all infrastructure, the members of the SHGs will sell the products,” said MCC Commissioner C T Shilpa Nag.

According to her, people are forced to use plastic materials due to unavailability of eco-friendly materials. “Paper and cloth bags are not available at all places. There is no proper market facility for these products. The ‘Green Shops’ would be a solution for the problem,” she said.

Despite a ban on the use and sales of plastic materials, the menace exists in the city. Many wholesale dealers and the shopkeepers are selling and using plastic materials. The MCC officials have been conducting raids on such shops regularly, but, the menace is yet to be checked. However, according to the officials, the menace has come down drastically due to strict enforcement of the rules.

Cutlery bank

As the officials are successful in reducing the generation of waste in marriage functions after introducing ‘Green Wedding’ concept, the MCC is planning to set-up a ‘Cutlery Bank’ where steel plates, cups, spoons and other utensils will be rented out for functions. In recent years, it has become a common practice to use plastic cups and spoons during functions.

Though banana and areca leaf plates are eco-friendly, they create large quantities of waste. To ensure the use of eco-friendly products and to reduce the generation of waste, the officials have introduced the ‘Green Marriage’ concept, in which all items are eco-friendly and reusable.

The commissioner said that the MCC will procure 10,000 steel plates, cups and other utensils, which will be given for functions and parties at nominal fees.

A ‘Green Marriage’, in which nearly 6,000 people attended, generated only 48 kg of waste.