Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), Chennai Corporation and Chennai Plastics Manufacturers and Merchants’ Association (CHEPMMA) joined together to organise an awareness camp on collection of plastic waste at the Marina Beach on June 17 from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
The organisers were expecting three tonnes of plastic to be collected, but collected a whopping five tonnes instead.
Chennai Corporation Mayor Sadai S Duraisamy said, “The camp has created awareness among the public and we need more camps to be organised in future. The State government is working specially on eradication of these kind of wastes in a better way.”
Tamil Nadu Environment Minister, B V Ramana, inaugurated the plastic awareness camp and said, “The collected wastes will be used in a proper manner in the construction of plastic roads and the rest will be taken for the recycling process. People should avoid using plastic bags to shop and practice using bags made of substitute products.”
Speaking to Express, G Shankaran, President, Chennai Plastic Association and Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Plastic Association, said, “We have kept seven booths in Marina Beach, which people from Salem, Coimbatore, Sivakasi, Trichy, Pudukottai, Tirupur, Pondicherry and Tirunelveli have organised. So people can bring their plastic waste and hand it over to us. People who are bringing plastic wastes of above 100 grams will be given a token. Selected persons will be provided with silver and gold coins.”
“The camp was conducted because public co operation is required in this mighty task. Or else, the problem will continue and assume huge dimensions which will ultimately become a potential environment hazard due to improper disposal,” said Shankaran.
Five people were given gold coins and 150 people were handed silver coins at the drive. School children picked up plastic from Marina Beach and handed over them in the booths. National Cadet Corps students from various colleges also participated in this campaign.