Mumbai, July 16: After the statewide plastic ban implemented in Maharashtra, the Mumbai civic body has collected 150 metric tonnes of banned plastic items. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has no mechanism in place to recycle or dispose of it scientifically and its still finding ways. According to a news report in DNA, there is no organisation which exists in Mumbai that can carry the plastic disposal scientifically said one of the civic officers on condition of anonymity.

The State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam introduced the plastic ban on Gudi Padwa -- on the New Year celebrated by Maharashtrians. After that, a three-month grace period was given to all establishments and common people to dispose of the available plastic at collection centres, started by the civic body at different places. From July 23, strict fines have been levied on violators as per the earlier reports BMC takes Rs 10,000 from first-time offenders, and more from repeat offenders. The ban was introduced after Uddhav Thackeray's son Aditya Thackeray requested to bring the ban. He also met State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and thanked him for considering his demand.

However, the state and the BMC drew a lot of flak for implementing the ban haphazardly. Following which, the state environment minister relaxed the rule of the plastic ban for retailers and allowed them to use plastic for packing of loose products like rice, ghee, and other products.

Amid the ban, the thermocol association also moved Bombay High Court, seeking relaxation on use of thermocol at least for this year's Ganesh festival. However, the court denied the plea. Therefore, similar to single-use plastic products, thermocol and other banned cutlery items also cannot be used. In Mumbai, the annual eleven-day Ganesh Festival is celebrated with fanfare and heavy decorations. Several pandal owners use thermocol as decoration, however, since the ban in place now these pandal owners cannot use thermocal as decoration.

As per the data, BMC has seized around 85,164 kg of plastic bags below 50 microns in last ten years, which is still lying around in the godowns since there are no mechanisms to recycle them. While after the statewide ban, BMC has collected over 1.4 lakh kg of plastic from its collection centres.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2018 12:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).