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The yearly floods and subsequent infrastructure degradation only make clear the cracks in our growing metropolis. Once the water logging of the August 29 flood cleared, the large amounts of waste material we’ve generated as a society once lay more apparent on the streets. Without responsible waste disposal, by citizens as much as the BMC, if not more, plastic waste is clogging our drains and polluting our beaches and oceans more than ever. There’s only so much citizen clean-up drives can really do if the area gets littered once again by neighbouring residents.
It is reported that India annually generates approximately 56 lakh tonnes of plastic waste, and in a bid to better our environment and make citizens more responsible for their waste production and disposal, Ramdas Kadam, Maharashtra’s Environment Minister, just announced the plan to completely ban the use of plastic carry bags in the state from Gudi Padwa, the Marathi Hindu new year, which falls around March next year.
“We have invited proposals from various organisations to suggest alternatives to plastic bags. There is also a proposal of giving a subsidy to women self-help groups, and getting them to supply cloth bags,” Kadam told Hindustan Times. He added that awareness initiatives for the public about the ban and waste management will be carried out through Doordarshan, All India Radio and other radio stations.
There has already been a ban on plastic bags less than 50 microns in thickness since February 2015, but a lack of implementation and follow through made it completely ineffective. “The ban could not be implemented due to lack of people’s acceptance that it is harmful to the environment. Even if they are aware about its effect, they continue to use it as they place their convenience over the environment,” Satish Gavai, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment Department, said to The Indian Express.
While the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) stated that they would provide eco-friendly bags as alternatives to plastic to vendors at a subsidised rate, the idea of the ban wasn’t completely welcomed by vegetable vendors who see it as a massive threat to their business. “The government may ask people to carry cloth bags but who does it? Often, people buy vegetables on a whim when they pass by. We will completely lose those customers,” said vegetable vendor Anand Gupta, speaking to The Indian Express.
The ban is definitely a step in the right direction and one that is long overdue in a currently that produces so much plastic waste, but Gupta isn’t completely off base either, realistically speaking, and there is a need to provide alternatives. There are several NGO’s and startups around the country that are working on producing eco-friendly and biodegradable alternatives to plastic, such as EnviGreen’s biodegradable and edible carrier bags. Providing a good amount of funding for such people, increasing their production and distribution is definitely something the government should be looking into. Only time will tell how this second plastic bag ban carries out.
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