Route to disaster
With the plastic peril looming large and environmentalists crying hoarse over its deleterious effects, it is time we look at viable alternatives beginning this World Environment Day (June 5, 2002), writes RADHIKA RAJAMANI.
A LOOK into homes and the environment will provide a depressing picture of the pervasive presence of plastic.
Plastic has littered our tourist places, picnic spots and even our waterways, drains and lakes. We have created a consumer culture, which is perpetually dependent on plastic.
Do we need a World Environment Day to inform us about the deleterious effect of plastic; rather each day should be a constant reminder of the negative effects of plastic.
Its growing popularity can be judged from the variety available – toys, packaging items, pipes, cables to clothing and others.
The hazardous effects of this synthetic material is well known but people brush aside its dangers for its utilitarian value. Time and again environmentalists have been talking about the perils of plastic.
Animals in zoos, and outside are said to have died because plastic got stuck in the intestines. Plastic prevents recharge of ground water by spreading on the ground. Plastic is non-biodegradable and cannot be recycled.
It flies high and gets stuck in an ugly form even on trees and bushes! As a result, the litter in our public places has become an eyesore.
Both manufacture and units recycling plastic emit dioxins, which are injurious to health. Use of plastic in food products is harmful as food can be contaminated with the toxic plastic.
Laws have been passed by States banning plastic, yet it finds no takers.
In this context, it is worthwhile looking at a government order on phasing out plastic, particularly carry bags, in Andhra Pradesh. “With a view to discourage indiscriminate use of plastic carry bags in the urban areas in particular and at public places in the State.
a) The manufacture of coloured plastic carry bags less than 20 microns in thickness is banned in the State.
b) The sale and use of coloured plastic carry bags less than 20 microns in thickness is banned in all shops and establishments of Municipal Corporations and urban development authorities in the State.
c) The use of carry bags made of recycled plastics for storing carrying, dispensing or packing of foodstuffs is banned in the State.
The religious worship places, health care centres, hotels/restaurants and other concerned agencies are to ensure strict implementation of the same.
d) Littering of public places like parks, playgrounds, recreational places, tourist centres, beaches, water fronts etc with carry bags is not permitted.”
Read more of the order and it will give you an impressive list of the penalties to be imposed on manufacturers, retailers, vendors and individuals.
On the face level, it seems impressive but like in most cases, it seems more of rhetoric than actual action and enforcement.
The actual punitive action taken is limited. “Two recycling plants in the Kathedan industrial estate were imposed heavy fines of Rs. 25,000 as they were not adhering to pollution norms,” says Prasanna Kumar, of the Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control board which is the notified authority of enforcement of the provisions of these rules.
The banning of coloured carry bags has met with some success and one can almost say “that these are not available – at least 99 per cent. But the thin plain ones continue,” says Prasanna Kumar.
Consumers walking out of supermarkets and big, posh stores is still a common sight. Restaurants continue to pack food in plastic containers. Plastic is here to stay and plastic manufacturers are a big lobby duly supported by many housewives and others.
Is plastic necessary in our lives? The elder generation will tell us how they did not use plastic and used cloth bags, paper bags, zinc buckets, mud pots and wooden utensils. Taking the substitutes further today we have leaf cups, paper cups, paper bags (newspaper and thick brown paper), jute bags, cloth bags all of which can replace plastic. Even bamboo baskets and baskets made of weed like lantana can substitute plastic material. Plastic, made of items like starch is degradable but we are not advanced in this technology as yet. One may argue that plastic is cheap, while paper is expensive. However, paper can be recycled for further use. Trees need not be felled and forests depleted for procurement of paper. Trees can be grown on farmland as well. One reason against paper bags is also they tear fast and can’t withstand weight. In that case, one can use two instead.
The carry bag culture is the order of the day. Some shops in the twin cities like The Earth Shop, Shilpika at Shilparamam, Urvi and Prabhas and many more have resorted to paper bags while some continue to use plastic. Some shopkeepers say that even though they are ready to give paper bags and have already started the usage of paper bags, they are forced to go back to plastic at the behest of consumers who find umpteen usages of plastic bags.
At times supermarkets have even declined to use cloth bags even though there were people ready to supply it free of cost.
In our own State, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has started using paper bags for packaging laddoos.
In Hyderabad, school children of the National Green Corps have been conducting camps to induce awareness at the community and colony levels.
But these are just a handful of attempts. There is no concerted effort to seek its ban and illumine people’s minds about the negative impact.
So our task is cut out – cut out plastics and use eco-friendly substitutes now and forever.
source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/06/04/stories/2002060400390100.htm