THE Environment Ministry of the Delhi government has made it mandatory for all five-star, four-star hotels, restaurants with more than 100 seats and hospitals to use degradable plastic bags.
As per a notification issued by the Ministry in this regard, first time violators will be fined Rs 10,000, the second and subsequent defaulters will be fined Rs 20,000.
The Sriram Institute for Industrial Research, Council for Scientific and Institutional Research (CSIR), Central Institute for Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET, Chennai) have been shortlisted by the Ministry for providing the degradability certification.
The Certificate of degradability is made mandatory for all the above hotels and restaurants.
‘‘The plastic bags, which are used now-a-days, not only pollute the environment but are also harmful to animals if swallowed. The degradable bags, when exposed to sunlight, lose their form and mix with the soil. We have written to these units to start using degradable plastic bags,’’ said an Environment Ministry official.
The officials in the Ministry will soon be looking out for violators by conducting surprise checks. The Ministry hopes to make degradable plastic bags mandatory in other places as well. ‘‘We plan to make it mandatory in other fields also. Once our target is achieved with these institutions we would definitely want to enhance the drive,’’ added the official.
On an average the monthly consumption of any five-star hotel ranges between 3,000-4,000 bags. While most of them have already moved to degradable plastic bags, others are looking for agencies which provide the degradable plastic bags.
‘‘While we are using specially designed bags for the laundry purposes , we have been in touch with a Mumbai-based company for providing degradable bags,’’ said A.S. Walia, Chief Engineer, Mariott Welcom Hotel.