The reality of the plastic ban hit Thaneites on Saturday, when a crack team from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) hit the markets at 7.30 am and raked in Rs 95,000 in fines by 5 pm. The team of 20 searched the market area in Thane West and fined shopkeepers hoarding more than two-three kg of plastic. The team also recovered 2,500 kg of plastic and thermocol on their rounds.

Despite the three-month warning given, the shopkeepers, predictably, were outraged by the fines. They said they had asked plastic wholesalers to provide plastic bags of more than 50 micron, but were told they were unavailable, unaware that the civic body has specified that plastic bags of any size and thickness are banned.