Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'There is need for substitutes for plastic' that was published in Newsband

There is need for substitutes for plastic

Maharashtra’s ban on several consumer articles made of plastic is an extreme measure. Mumbai is trying to adapt quickly. During the World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to do away with all single-use plastics by 2022. This goal is not yet backed by an action plan

Worldwide, the problem has got out of hand. This lackadaisical approach is at odds with its ambitious goals. The Centre and the States should deal correctly with plastic waste management. To address the global concern plastic that is being dumped in the oceans should be segregated at source. The Urban Development Secretary in each State should come up with a monthly report on how much plastic waste is collected, including details of the types and the disposal methods.

Retailers must be required to switch to paper bags. Potentially, carry bag production using cloth can create more jobs than machines using plastic pellets. Plastics became popular because they are inexpensive, can be easily produced and offer great convenience. Their wild popularity has turned them into a scourge. Consumers will be ready to make the switch, but they need good alternatives.

Plastic usage cannot be stopped unless availability of alternate material is made cheaper accessible to the common public. This involves curbing of production of plastic disposal bags and increasing production of eco-friendly disposal bags and planning of waste disposals in cities and towns. Even if it is a difficult task to eradicate plastic material use, the hazards and suffering caused to animals and plants in the environment has to be considered, and thus put in all efforts to segregate waste into non-plastic and plastic, and incinerate the plastic waste.

Enforce segregation at source. If this is done waste management would be much easier. Though easier said than done it is certainly not impossible. The concerned authorities need to create awareness about segregation and follow it up with penalty if not followed, to ensure enforcement.

A good start may be a great leap forward by the Maharashtra government in banning plastic substances. We have to create more awareness among the public through different media regarding this plastic menace. All the states in India and local bodies should emulate this spirit. Instead of plastic bags, encourage jute bags which are eco friendly and also generate employment, income source for jute industry. Scientific research has to be done for alternative eco friendly package and recycling of plastic.

Plastic products are a grave threat to our environment and Maharashtra government has done well to ban specified plastic articles, though the ban may cost it some much needed revenue and throw some people out of employment. All states of India should follow the example of Maharashtra and take decisive measures to deal with this threat to environment. Viable alternatives to banned plastic products would come up in due course of time.

Use of plastic has almost enveloped every form of human activity. Abusive use must be checked and eradicated while exploring ways and means of putting the waste material for alternative use. Ways and means should be found to ensure their destruction which in the current stage appears to be another written off item. Parallel to the direct attack on the plastic waste every endeavour should be made for introducing alternatives equally good or better as substitutes. However convenient and economical it may be at the user stage the after use effect is the matter that matters now. Those who dump the plastic appear to have decisive influence over the decision makers over and above the consumers who are neither organised nor alert enough to realise the crowding in of the waste material that may displace them from where they are.

Plastic waste disposal indeed is a herculean task every day since there is humongous quantum of waste. Recycling of plastic waste and replacing plastic packaging materials must be a gradual process since the ban will take off such industries producing such packaging plastic products and will render lakhs of workers jobless. Awareness programmes must be conducted and cloth bags must be used by business. The elephant must walk and there should be no death of ants.