more-in The City Corporation plans to educate residents about reducing plastic use by incentivising the use of biodegradable material. The four zonal offices of the Corporation will set up kiosks and invite residents to swap their single-use plastic material for small gifts and bags. Corporation Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar said the four zonal offices were already being used as plastic collection centres. A separate kiosk would be opened on the premises of Anna Maligai, the main office of the Corporation in Tallakulam, where people could buy subsidised cloth bags. With a view to popularising the environment-friendly concept, the bags would be sold at an affordable rate. “Instead of aiming for profit, we aim to create awareness,” he said. A senior health official said it had been planned to discourage use of all banned plastic material by October 2. “We want to be ready and prepare the public even before the total ban. We are in touch with over 80 non-governmental organisations, schools and colleges to create awareness campaigns. We are also planning to recognise institutions that go plastic-free by issuing them certificates,” he said. Fifty animators would be delegated in the 100 wards to create awareness of the right use and disposal of plastic waste. Sanitary Inspectors and Sanitary Officers in each zone would visit bulk waste generators such as hotels and educate them about right disposal of packaging material. Urban Primary Health Centres would also be used as knowledge dissemination centres to drive home the message to every section of the society, he said.

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