Mumbai, September 30:

The impending blanket ban on plastic carry-bags in Maharashtra will hurt India’s export of polyethylene products, industry representatives claim. “If the proposed ban on use of plastic covers comes into effect, then India will not be able to sell the same in the international market,” said S K Ray, co-chairman of Plastindia Foundation, an industry representatives’ organisation.

“Being signatories to the Basel convention we will not be able to export the banned commodity,” Ray said. According to Ray, the ban, which will come into effect on October 20, will lose nearly $115 million in exports of plastic carry bags. India exports close to $728 million worth of plastic products with the top five trading partners, UAE, US, China, Britain and Turkey. The Maharashtra government has ordered discontinuation of polyethylene bags, terming them potential source of injury to humans and animals and damage to environment.