Vijayawada: In a renewed effort to combat plastic pollution, authorities in Andhra Pradesh are reviving past initiatives to drastically reduce the use of single-use plastic, particularly in major urban centres like Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Kurnool. These initiatives aim to protect the environment while also creating new employment opportunities, especially for women and rural communities.The state’s municipal department estimated in 2018 that over 70% of single-use plastic in cities could be eliminated by replacing plastic bags and food packaging with eco-friendly alternatives. Although a formal ban was imposed that year, enforcement weakened over time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the use of plastic surged again due to hygiene concerns.In Vijayawada alone, 150 metric tons of garbage is generated daily—over 90% of which is single-use plastic. To curb this, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) initially encouraged the use of cloth and jute bags and promoted food packaging in lotus or banana leaves. The initiative gained initial support but later lost momentum due to cost and availability issues.With the new NDA govt in place, the anti-plastic campaign is being re-energised. The govt now plans to provide training and subsidies to women-led self-help groups under the MSME programme for manufacturing biodegradable items such as banana-leaf plates and wooden spoons. Lotus leaves cultivated in ponds near urban areas are also being promoted for use in hotels and meat shops, aligning with both environmental goals and rural employment generation.To further encourage public participation, the municipal department plans to convince sellers to offer discount-based incentives. Hotels offering takeout will give concessions to customers who bring their own containers, while meat shops will provide a 3% discount for those avoiding plastic bags.The AP pollution control board (APPCB) and voluntary organisations are also working together to develop a sustainable plan to eliminate plastic use through public awareness campaigns and competitions.
