Mon May 05 06:10:32 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Suburbs Struggle with Rampant Illegal Burning of Plastic Waste
**Chennai, India (May 5, 2025)** – Residents of several southern Chennai suburbs are expressing outrage over the lack of response to widespread illegal burning of plastic waste, particularly single-use plastics. Bernice Jacinth, a commuter who regularly witnesses the problem in areas like Sithalapakkam, Ponmar, Thalambur, Ottiyambakkam, and Madurapakkan, has documented the issue with a GPS camera and filed a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
However, her complaint was closed without resolution or comment, despite the ongoing burning continuing unabated. Ms. Jacinth’s experience highlights a concerning lack of enforcement regarding both waste management and the ban on single-use plastics in these outlying areas. The large quantities of plastic accumulating and being burned raise serious environmental and public health concerns. The incident underscores the challenges faced by Chennai’s expanding peri-urban areas in maintaining adequate waste management infrastructure and effective enforcement of environmental regulations.
First Piper 