Seeking repeal of the 18 per cent GST on the plastic processing industry, some 200 persons involved in plastic recycling and manufacturing today staged a demonstration in the city today.

The demonstrators the banner Coimbatore Plastics Re-Processing and Trader Association closed down their manufacturing units and took part in the protest.

They said the increase of tax for reprocessed plastic from 5 to 18 per cent was making things hard and finding it difficult to compete with virgin plastic manufacturers, as moulding manufacturers will prefer new plastic to reprocessed one.

The closure of around 5,000 manufacturing units in and around the city has caused a loss of Rs 1 crore, as nearly 200 tonnes of plastic was lying unused this day, they added.