Many of us know the ill effects of usage of plastics. Though the damage to the environment caused by use of plastics is widely publicized and most of the citizens are aware of it, there is a widespread lack of action by all of us. None of us take that little extra effort in carrying our own bags when we go for shopping. On the contrary we ask the shop keeper to provide plastic carry bags, which we carelessly throw it away causing long term damage to the environment. 

In view of this menace, Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation announced a complete ban of plastic bags under 50 microns and took other measures as stipulated in the Plastic management Rules 2016 (Gazette of India No. G.S.R. 320(E) | Date: 18.03.2016).

In order to bring an awareness to the general public about the harmful effects of usage of plastics,  CCMC organized an Expo called “MY SHOPPING MY BAG EXPO 2017” on 25th and 26th March 2016 with help of Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore and likeminded Swachh bharat volunteers of Coimbatore. The expo brought out the various alternatives to plastics which could be used in our day to day life and thereby avoid usage of plastics.  The following table gives the name of the alternate product and contact no of the exhibitors. We have given wide publicity to these products and urge the public to make these alternate products.

The Expo was inaugurated by Dr. Vijaya Karthikeyan IAS, Corporation Commissioner and Special officer of CCMC, in the presence of Mrs. Vanitha Mohan – Vice president of RAAC and President of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Coimbatore and Mr R.Raveendran Secretary of RAAC. The Company which manufactures “The Classic Polo” brand of garments introduced corn starch based, bio degradable bags that looks similar to plastic. Paper and sugar cane based products by PAPPCO – a Mumbai based firm has were also displayed, which attracted lot of enquiries.  Many cloth bags, jute bags, Reuseable shopping baskets, Coir products and banana tree fiber based products, areca Plates, home composters and other miscellaneous eco friendly products were displayed for the visitors.