Food business operators in Salem go green

Avoid plastic carry bags, deliver food at the doorsteps of customers

With the ban on one-time use plastics coming into effect on January 1, customers bring vessels to buy food in Salem on Monday.

Ban on plastic bags has forced many food business operators in the city to carry food items in stainless steel containers and deliver it at the doorsteps of customers.

Small shops selling variety rice, gravies and other food items are present in large numbers in the city, particularly in Guhai. Food items are packed in disposable carry bags and sold to customers.

However, after the plastic ban from January 1, Corporation Officials intensified raids against use of banned plastics. Catering service units could not find alternative or cost effective material for packing.

Though customers were asked to bring their own containers, only a few turned up.

Hence, in order to keep the business going, many caterers started delivering food at the doorsteps of customers.

Business hit

S. Malligeswaran, a caterer in Guhai, said that after the plastic ban he had lost 70% of his business as customers wanted food delivered in plastic bags. We have been educating the customers for over a month asking them to bring containers. Since many are labourers, the result was discouraging.

Now he uses a delivery van and reaches out to the customers.

His wife, M. Kalaiarasi, goes to the houses of customers to deliver food.

Between 11.30 a.m. and 3 p.m., she delivers food in localities near Tiruchi Road, and Dadagapatti Main Road. The couple said that to keep the business running it was bearing the additional cost of operating the van and was positive that people would co-operate in making the society plastic-free.