Thousands turn up for civic body’s solid waste management exhibition

TRICHY: The city corporation’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) exhibition has evoked an encouraging response from the public, registering a footfall of 6,000 on the concluding day on Sunday.
Commercial establishments, including restaurants and kallyanamandapams, attended the event showing interest in identifying suitable biodegradable waste recycling models. Private organisations, which set up stalls in exhibition hall, fetched decent sales, each generating a minimum Rs 10,000 in revenue a day.
The civic body said that many turned up for the event to learn about eco-friendly products and waste recycling concepts put on display in the 40 stalls in Karparakshagi Mahal in Cantonment. With a ban in place on plastic products with less than 50-micron thickness, traders used the occasion to study cloth bags available in different sizes and shapes in a bid to do away with plastic bags.
“Response from families, particularly the children, for seed paper pencil and seed paper pen was good. People were seen asking more about environment-friendly concepts,” said R Nagarajan, representing Green India organisiation.
Green India sold pencils wrapped around by old newspapers and those having vegetable seeds stuffed in a capsule for Rs 10 to Rs 20 in the expo. Similarly, organisers said that kitchen utensils made of copper and coconut shells, reusable sanitary napkins made of clothes, and trendy jute bags saw decent sales. “Copper bottles and jute bags were a hit among residents. It was a good sign to learn that residents are interested in boycotting plastic products,” an official said.