TN Marks International Plastic Bag Free Day with Mylapore, Koyambedu Drive

PRESS RELEASE International Plastic Bag Free Day observed on July 3, 2026 To mark International Plastic Bag Free Day, a day-long awareness programme was held under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. V.K. Rajeev, at the shopping street near Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai, and at the Chennai Koyambedu Wholesale Market, to encourage the public to avoid plastic bags and single-use plastic items and switch to cloth bags and other eco-friendly alternatives. Speaking at the Mylapore event, Hon'ble Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Thiru P. Sengodarajan, highlighted the environmental harm caused by the use of plastic bags and the difficulties faced by sanitation workers in disposing of such waste. He urged the public to begin the shift from plastic to cloth bags with themselves on this International Plastic Bag Free Day. At the event, the Hon'ble Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. V.K. Rajeev, delivered a special address. He spoke about the initiatives taken by the Central and State Governments to tackle plastic pollution and on addressing single-use plastic pollution. He also stressed the importance of individual responsibility in building a plastic-pollution-free Tamil Nadu, and urged the public to make the switch from plastic to cloth bags a daily habit and to adopt eco-friendly alternatives as a sustainable way of life. During the event, an International Plastic Bag Free Day pledge was administered and a signature campaign was conducted to encourage the public to avoid plastic bags, adopt eco-friendly alternatives, and protect the environment. As part of the event, a special camp was held at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market where cloth bags stitched from old fabric were distributed to the public, along with an awareness cultural programme. The Hon'ble Minister for Environment and Climate Change also visited an awareness stall showcasing eco-friendly alternative products set up under the Climate Warriors scheme. The event was attended by Thiru Anurag Mishra, IFS, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board; Thiru Varadarajakumar, Member Secretary; senior officials of the Board; Tmt. Indhumathi, Administrative Officer of the Koyambedu Market Management Committee; and a large number of members of the public. Additionally, to promote sustainable and eco-friendly trading practices in the market areas near Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, and at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market, 2,000 cloth bags were distributed to the public, traders and customers. ************************* Issued By: - DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9