A month into the ban on single-use plastic, Bengaluru shops still have it
Changes like the switchover from plastic to other materials cannot be implemented in a short period of time
A month after India’s ban on select single-use plastic items came into effect, local shopkeepers of Vasanth Nagar in Bengaluru are in a frenzy to dispose of plastic carry bags and move on to paper bags or cloth bags. But it is not so easy. Snacks and savoury shops like this one, buy products from their manufacturers in single-use plastic bags. Changes like the switchover cannot be implemented in a short period of time. Even while a majority of single-use plastic is banned, fragments can still be seen. Photo: Swathi Parwathi
A month after India’s ban on select single-use plastic items came into effect, local shopkeepers of Vasanth Nagar in Bengaluru are in a frenzy to dispose off plastic carry bags and move on to paper bags or cloth bags. But it is not so easy. Snacks and savoury shops like this one, buy products from their manufacturers in single-use plastic bags. Changes like the switchover cannot be implemented in a short period of time. Even while a majority of single-use plastic is banned, fragments can still be seen. Photo: Swathi Parwathi
This shop sells luggage and handbags. They can still be found wrapped up in single-use plastic bags. The shopkeeper claims to remove the plastic bags after the consumer purchase. A month after the ban, the plastic bags are still in the shop. One does not know whether her claim is legitimate or not. Photo: Swathi Parwathi
Meanwhile, there are provisions stores like this one that have been using cloth bags and paper bags from past two years. They are also aware of the ban and the only plastic found in the store is commercial plastics. They do not face the problem of cost since it is a provisions store in a commercial street unlike the street vendors. Photo: Swathi Parwathi
