Ban on single-use plastic: food sector flags concerns

The ban on single-use plastics, recently imposed by the Kerala High Court at major tourist destinations as well as weddings, hotels, and eateries, has raised concerns in the hotel, restaurant and food catering sectors across the State over its practicality.

While the ban on plastic containers and pouches is regarded as a minor concern, the prohibition on water bottles with a capacity of less than five litres and soft drink bottles under two litres is being flagged as the most pressing issue.

“No one would buy five-litre water bottles as they are heavy and difficult to carry. While this adversely affects travellers, the ban could drive some small eateries out of business,” said G. Jayapal, president, Kerala Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHRA).

The food catering sector has also expressed concern over the ban. “This move will not be effective unless the public is properly educated on plastic reuse and recycling. There must also be viable alternatives available in the market,” said Badusha Kadalundi, patron of the All Kerala Caterers’ Association (AKCA). He described the ban as a crisis for caterers as small plastic water bottles were commonly provided at weddings. “How else can we ensure that the water served to guests is clean? The alternatives are costly and impractical when working within a budget,” he added.

The tourism sector, on the other hand, has welcomed the ban, viewing it as an opportunity to enhance the industry’s image. “A hotel with 100 rooms disposes of at least 200 plastic water bottles a day. We have already taken steps to eliminate this waste by providing glass bottles in the rooms,” said Sajeer Padikkal, president, Malabar Tourism Council (MTC). “It is cost-effective. All we need is a purifier. It may be challenging at first, but it will eventually become the norm,” added Rajish Raghavan, secretary, MTC. He also noted that the ban would significantly benefit the tourism sector by helping market destinations and hotels as zero-waste and eco-friendly.

However, all the above organisations have emphasised the need for proper research and development of alternative products and urged the government to actively promote them. “We need more water dispensers in public spaces, especially at tourist destinations, so that people can refill their bottles when needed,” Mr. Rajish added.

Following the High Court’s order, the State government expressed its willingness to implement the ban from October 2. Notably, the State had introduced a ban on single-use plastics in 2018, but poor enforcement led to continued violations. The renewed ban is expected to give more teeth to the State machinery for its implementation.

Meanwhile, the KHRA is planning to approach the court seeking a practical solution to the issue instead of a blanket ban.