Financial Express: Fearing ban, plastic bag-makers ready to abide by pollution

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Fearing ban, plastic bag-makers ready to abide by pollution

Ravi Shekhar Pandey

NEW DELHI, Aug 29: With the Union Environment Ministry contemplating a ban on coloured poly-bags made from recycled waste, the plastic industry, in cooperation with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), prepares itself to be more environment friendly.

To begin with, the industry has accepted to follow a number of guidelines outlined by the CPCB with regard to the production of poly-bags.

Manufacturers are also planning to contribute their bit in creating awareness among the people on hazardous implications of misuse of plastic products, particularly poly-bags. Another significant part of their effort is their keenness to cooperate with civic bodies and non-governmental organisations in proper waste management.

The CPCB, whose chairman Dilip K Biswas heads the task force on plastic waste management, has recommended introduction of a colour code for plastic carry bags and restrictions on recycling them beyond a certain limit. "The introduction of colour code for plastic carry-bags will distinguish virgin plastic from the bags made of recycled plastic which is harmful. The aim is to prevent food items from being contaminated," it notes. Among other things, the CPCB recommendations say that food-grade plastic bags should be transparent, while black plastic bags would mean that they are recycled. It also insists on recycled bags having a thickness of not less then 25 microns and they should not have any colour pigments, which are considered harmful to health. "We are pushing for specific rules regarding the use of food-grade plastic that meets certain essential requirements and is considered safe when it comes in contact with food," says Biswas.

Biswas points out that the CPCB task force on plastic waste management is emphasising on reducing indiscriminate consumption so that there is a reduction in production. "For this we have asked manufacturers to increase the thickness of the plastic bags so that they cost more, become durable and are put to multiple use thereby reducing consumption," he adds. The CPCB, however, does not favour a blanket ban on these plastic products, at least, at this juncture. "Plastic has pervaded all aspects of our life. We cannot ban it with the stroke of a pen. What we can do is create awareness among the people so that it is not misused thereby reducing consumption." Industry representatives, who are in touch with the CPCB authorities, have agreed to follow the guidelines. "We have outlined a code of conduct for the manufacturers and also issued guidelines to be followed by the packaging business which will be routed through the Bureau of Indian Standards," says Biswas.

In fact, he adds, the manufacturers have given in writing that standards set by the CPCB with regard to non-use of colour pigments and increasing the thickness of the product will be adhered to. The president of the All India Federation of Plastic Industries, M R Gupta, agrees that it would be in the larger interest of the industry if it follows certain environmental norms.

At present, poly-bags generally have a thickness of five microns, Gupta points out that they have accepted the CPCB guideline that the bags should have a minimum thickness of 25 microns. Gupta feels that regulation is better than a ban. "A ban would deprive a large number of families of their livelihood. It is better if we follow a set of rules so that both the industry and people are benefited."

Gupta feels that plastic bags--whether made of recycled waste or those of virgin plastics--are not as dangerous as they are made out to be. "It is their misuse which creates problem," he claims.

On the issue of plastic waste management, as the CPCB chairman emphasises the need for participation of the manufacturers in the process, Gupta agrees. "If the civic bodies in the cities should create cells for collection and disposal of the poly-bags we are ready to cooperate with them," he says. "There are nearly 50,000 patents on plastic products. Not all products are harmful to health or environment. If the Government is coming up with some safety guidelines we are ready to follow them," asserts Pawan Garg, a city-based manufacturer. "If coloured poly-bags are harmful then ban them, but why there is so much of fuss about everything made of plastic." Garg feels that the government should tread a cautious path in this regard. He too emphasises the need for a proper waste management.

Interestingly, most manufacturers blame people for environmental and health problems created by the recycled bags. Most of them are unaware of the fact that the coloured plastic bags made from recycled waste and used forcarrying food items are a major health risk.

While they agree that these plastic bags are dangerous because they end up creating environmental problems, most of them feign ignorance of the fact that eatables carried in them gets contaminated and can cause misshapen limbs or affect kidneys.For most of them, both manufacturers and shopkeepers, the question of immediate concern is the effect on their profit margins if even the colour codes are introduced. "Recycled plastic bags are cheap so they are much in demand," points out Garg. As they are available at a rate as low as Rs 35 per kilogram or at the most Rs 40, these bags are popular among shopkeepers who hand them over to their customers. On the other hand, bags made of virgin plastics costs around Rs 70 per kilogram.

Despite all the questions of economics involved in the issue, the fact that these poly-bags pose health risks to not only those who use them but to even those involved in their manufacturing is being slowly accepted by the industry. Aware of the fact that most of them are operating with crude technologies paying scant regard to safety norms, the federation is planning workshops and seminars all over the country not only to educate the manufacturers but also the consumers.

"We have already sent 20,000 pamphlets outlining safety measures to our members as also to consumers." Both the CPCB and the manufacturers agree that all this will take time. According to the federation there are some 2,000 units in the Capital which are involved in the production of a plethora of plastic goods including bags. Of these, some 200 units use recycled plastics for manufacturing poly-bags. Packaging accounts for 52 per cent of 1.88 million tonnes of plastic applications in the country.

Biswas, however, has word of warning. "If things show no signs of improvement, ban of plastic products will be considered as a last resort."

Net Express

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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.

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