Kozhikode district to be declared Plastic-free on January 26

District Collector P.B. Salim has said that Kozhikode will be declared as a plastic waste-free region on January 26.

He was inaugurating a get-together of heads of schools in the district in connection with the Mass Action for Plastic waste free (MAP) campaign, a project conceived jointly by the District Sanitation Mission, district administration and the Department of Education, here on Monday.

Dr. Salim said that a concerted effort was needed for eliminating plastic waste. Steps would be taken to punish those indulging in the sale and distribution of illegal plastic carry bags. There would be an alternative to plastic carry bags. A recycling plant would also be set up, he said.

The MAP would be implemented in five phases. Awareness programmes would be conducted for students, Kudumbasree workers, arts and sports clubs and local libraries. An exhibition would be organised in schools this month-end.

Measures would be taken by December 20 to declare all educational institutions plastic-free campus. An action plan would be adopted in all the schools. A monitoring committee has been constituted to supervise the activities, he said.

The district administration also planned to discourage the use of disposable glasses and plates. Flex boards and plastic festoons would be banned.

A. Achyuthan, environmentalist, presided over the meeting. T. Shobhindran, eco-activist; P.T. Lakshmanan and K. Shobana, District Education Officers spoke.