Collector Rajendra Ratnoo has redoubled the efforts to transform Cuddalore into a “zero-waste” district before January 2013. He has started propagating the message in all the panchayats, town panchayats and municipalities.

Addressing the meeting of the panchayat presidents and representatives of the Self-Help Groups at Panruti near here on Tuesday, the Collector noted that all good things should begin in right earnest. He said that in his camp office only recyclable things were being used and one-time use plastic articles were totally dispensed with. He pointed out that the plastic articles were hazardous to health, both on earth and in the sea. As the plastic articles would remain in sub-soil for hundreds of years without any degradation, it would prevent rain water to percolate into the soil.