VMC prohibits use of single-use plastic

PNS|Vijayawada

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has cautioned the public not to use single-use plastic and follow the guidelines of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in order to keep the city clean and green. VMC Commissioner Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said that the use of single-use plastic was strictly prohibited in VMC jurisdiction. He said that all residents and merchants were advised not to use or sell single-use plastic materials in any way. Plastic carry bags, cups, spoons, plastic straws, single-use plastic bottles, thermocol, waste containing carry bags and any other plastic materials designated as harmful by the CPCB and NGT norms were prohibited in Vijayawada city.

The Commissioner stated that the violators would be punished and penalised as per the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, which may amount up to Rs. 5,000 per violation. He further stated that a fine of Rs. 1,000 would be levied on the violators for open defecation and Rs. 500, for open urination.

Commissioner Swapnil Dinkar stated that the residents of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and the public in general visiting Vijayawada were to observe the guidelines of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in order to keep the city clean and green and help the corporation to serve people better by maintaining health and hygiene within the jurisdiction. He mentioned that door-to-door garbage collection was being done in all wards and the residents and citizens were required to segregate the waste generated in their houses, shops, and establishments. They are required to segregate the wet waste in green bins and the dry waste in blue bins, dispose of the sanitary waste stacked in a separate box, and likewise the hazardous waste in red bins, and hand over the same to the garbage collector separately.

The Commissioner said that it was required to avoid the sale, purchase, or usage of polythene bags and throwing or accumulating such waste on water structures, canals, sewers, drains, pathways, empty plots, etc.