Burning of plastic poses health hazard

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Burning of plastic waste has become a common sight across the city with waste removal coming to a standstill. City dwellers are resorting to burning plastic finding no other way to dispose of plastic carry bags, bottles and empty milk sachets. According to them, kitchen and paper wastes can either be burned or buried, but plastic wastes pose a problem. In many instances, plastic is being burned openly on roadsides with utter disregard for health. Fumes from chlorinated plastic and PVC can cause serious health hazards, according to Pollution Control Board officials. Many shops in the city have now stopped giving out plastic carry bags as part of the plastic-free city campaign. It’s now two weeks since the Kudumbashree Cleanwell Units stopped collecting household wastes following the Vilappilsala controversy. An effective alternative mechanism has yet to be put in place. Friday’s night’s flash floods, which engulfed low-lying commercial centres and residential areas, had added to the city’s ‘garbage woes.’ Corporation health standing committee chairperson S Pushpalatha said the local body will look into the indiscriminate burning of plastic wastes.