Just a week back New Zealand imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags all over the country. According to the rule, a plastic bag with a thickness less than 70 microns that’s new or unused and has “carry handles” which are commonly provided for carrying sold goods were banned in the country. The ban also included all types of degradable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable material.
But in order to get away with using plastic despite the ban, a famous Indian Biryani chain, Paradise restaurant in Auckland has come up with a ‘jugad’ that will certainly make you cringe! As plastic bags without handles are exempt from the ban, the restaurant owner ordered his workers to cut off the handles of the plastic bags. The restaurant is still continuing to serve its rice and curry takeaways in these plastic carrier bags.
Talking about it, the owner Rafi Mohammed said that it was just a measure to clear the stock of plastic bags the restaurant still has.
“Just to be clear, we are not doing this because we don’t support the ban. This is just to clear our remaining stock while waiting for our new environmental-friendly plastic bags to arrive,” he told NZ Herald.
“We support the plastic bag ban, it is good for the environment and our future,” he added.
One of the staff members confirmed that they were ordered to cut off the handles of all the plastic bags following the ‘new rule’. A customer was happy that the restaurant has still managed to use the plastic bags despite the ban.
“Paper bags are good for the environment, but not very practical when you are buying curries,” he said. “If, by cutting the handles from the bags, Paradise is not breaking the law, then good on them,” he added.
A spokesperson from the Ministry for the environment has, however, said that cutting off handles of a plastic bags to escape the ban is “against the intent of the ban”.
“We will follow-up any reports of this happening. It is in the interests of everyone, and the environment, that the rules are fair and people follow them,” he said.
“Where necessary we will be contacting businesses reported to be supplying alleged banned plastic bags. Reports are taken seriously, and we will work with businesses who we confirm are not complying with the law. We want to understand why the bags are being supplied and we want to help businesses do what’s best for the environment,” the spokesman said.
“We hope businesses take a responsible approach in the alternatives they are providing customers,” he added.
Though we Indians have been proud of our smart ‘jugaads’ this one just went way too far! Don’t you think so?