Meat buyers switch to containers

Mumbai: On the second day of state’s plastic ban and also the busiest day of the week, impact was visible over the city’s fish and meat markets. While the markets were crowded as usual, not many carried containers in few parts of the city due to which many fish and vegetable vendors used old newspapers in place of bags. The direction of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to only use the biodegradable plastic bags that are certified by the pollution control board has added to the woes of citizens.

In the market area of Kandivali, the meat and fish vendors were seen handing out items by wrapping it in papers. A similar scenario could be seen in Bandra (west) market area where vegetables were given wrapped in newspapers. As such, vendors have highlighted that not just vendors or shopkeepers but the citizens are too not prepared for plastic ban. Several fish and vegetable vendors in the markets revealed that they were unaware of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) exhibition on the alternatives for plastic items.  Prashant Koli, a fish vendor in Mulund (west) said, “We were not able to attend the exhibition as we were unaware of it. But despite knowing and being able to attend it, people are not getting their own containers here.”

In the market area in Vikhroli and Thane people were collecting meat in their steel containers. “Since last two days, our business was suffering because customers were not getting containers, but today many turned up with their own containers,” said Bandhu Tandel, a meat vendor in Vikhroli.

For citizens, collecting garbage from home has become an issue, as degradable bags needs to be certified by the MPCB or Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per the authorities, these bags will take another three months to come in the market. “I am not sure if I will be penalised for using the biodegradable garbage bags that I already have in my stock,” said Debasmita, a resident of Mulund.