Fly Plastic-Free: Airports Authority Of India Bans Single-Use Plastic Items At 16 Airports

No matter how much we try to deny it, but with time, plastic has become part and parcel of our lives. We have become so addictive of plastic use that we do not even want to reduce its consumption or maybe look for alternative methods. The single-use plastic is the most significant contributor to the plastic menace. Almost all of us, at least everyday use single-use plastic one form or the other. We generally use single-use plastics in the form of disposable coffee cups, when we take away a nice cup of cappuccino from our favourite cafe., straws at ‘narial Pani’(coconut water) stalls or plastic spoons at our lunch table. However, the problem of plastic pollution and excessive use of one-time use of plastic is visible to many, and to curb the problem, many are taking the effort.

In a recent move, on December 4, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has imposed a ban on single-use plastic items at its 16 airports across the country. The authorities have also issued directions to the airport directors seeking a ban on single-use plastic items. It has urged them to implement the order as early as possible.

Being an environmentally-conscious public sector enterprise, #AAI is committed towards its Corporate Social Responsibility and has taken measures to ensure that Terminal Buildings at its 16 Airports across the country are "Single-use Plastic free" Terminals. #AAICares pic.twitter.com/CB8kUrWjKL

— Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) January 4, 2019

According to the Hindustan Times, the AAI is taking help of the Quality Council of India (QCI) to assess/check the implementation of the ban. The ban would be fully implemented by January 31.

Social responsibilities to curb plastic pollution

Calling themselves an “environmentally-conscious public sector enterprise”, AAI tweeted, “Being an environmentally-conscious public sector enterprise, #AAI is committed towards its Corporate Social Responsibility and has taken measures to ensure that Terminal Buildings at its 16 Airports across the country are “Single-use Plastic-free” Terminals. #AAICares.”

In their statement, they further said that various steps are being taken to eliminate single-use plastic items at passenger terminals and city side. They claimed that these steps include banning of single-use plastic items that include things like straws, plastic cutlery, plastic plates etc, reports The Financial Express.

The 16 airports in which the ban has been implemented are in Indore, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Tirupati, Trichy, Vijayawada, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Vadodara, Madurai, Raipur, Vizag, Pune, Kolkata and Varanasi.

Spokesperson of AAI while speaking to the Hindustan Times said that the AAI is also trying to enhance its waste management systems. He added that the authority also aims to promote the use of eco-friendly sustainable alternatives. These “progressively” alternatives would include the use of bio-degradable garbage bags in the garbage bins apart from installation of plastic bottle crushing machines at airports premises.

Talking about other initiatives by the AAI the spokesperson said that it has also various awareness campaigns to aware the passengers about plastic pollution. He added that AAI would also encourage the passengers to cooperate with them for the cause.

Applauded by many

The twitter has also appreciated the AAI move

Great news from India ! Airports have banned #SingleUsePlastic , building better waste management streams; would be interesting to see the results @AAI_Official #plasticpollution #plastic #india #sustainabilityhttps://t.co/3mP0tgq38u

— Dhruv Boruah (@dhruvboruah) January 7, 2019

@AAI_Official Thank you for banning single-use plastic items at airports.https://t.co/Ny0UhYJRHNhttps://t.co/JOg3fGXZkk

— Sachin Jain (@Loomerforpeace) January 7, 2019

This is good news !
AAI bans single-use plastic items at 16 airports; more to follow suit https://t.co/aiI883R4I2 via @TOIBusiness

— Pramod Deshpande (@pramodvd) January 7, 2019

The Logical Indian also appreciate the efforts made by AAI and we would encourage more people to take part in this initiative. It is important that all of us should know the heavy cost that one would have to pay if we do not stop irresponsible use to plastic.

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