Ban on SUP affecting small entrepreneurs, vendors
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 07 2022: The nationwide ban on single use plastics (SUP), which came into effect from July 1, is creating various inconveniences for many, especially small entrepreneurs and vendors such as packaged drinking water manufacturers and roadside vegetable sellers among others.

A roadside ready to serve dish vendor told The People s Chronicle that the ban on single use plastics has caused them a lot of problems in the absence of any viable alternative.

They use to sell dishes using small polythene bags.

Buyers seldom bring their own containers.

In the absence of alternative, they are still using the banned plastic bags despite understanding the risk.

Only if the government had taken up steps to provide alternatives to these single use plastic products before enforcing the ban, they would not face the problem, he opined while confiding that he is thinking of making containers using banana leaves to sell his ready to serve dishes.

Proprietor of a packaged drinking water manufacturing unit told TPC that they are no longer producing half-litre packaged drinking water bottles.

Half-litre bottles are in high demand in the market but it would not be available now and it would definitely affect their business, he said.

He also expressed his view that it would be better for the government to enforce the ban in phased manner while paving way for bringing out alternatives.

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