Prof. (Dr) R.D. Gupta
These days, we are dwelling in an age of plastic which is evident from disposal razor used for shaving to polyurethane foam utilized for making mattresses and pillows which all contain plastic. Plates, cups, glasses, spoons, table cloths made of plastics are also of common use as well as polythene bags. Although use of polythene bags has been going on since 1852, when Alexander Parker discovered plastic yet a phenomenal increase in their use was occurred after 1933. In 1933, an experiment led to discover that when mixture of ethylene and benzaldehyde was heated to 1,700 degree Celsius at 1,700 atmospheric pressure these substances got combined together to form polymer of ethylene.
Use of polythene bags has proliferated into our daily life due to its easy utilization being hardy, light weight and water proof in nature, and low cost. Their use has, infact, become omnipresent in each and every sphere of our daily life through various applications in the world. In the early nineteen hundred fifty,the world consumption of plastic bags was 5 million tonnes a year. During the year 2012, the USA alone consumed 100 billion plastic bags. On an average, Indian person uses 1 Kg plastic bag, while its world average is 18kg.
There is no doubt that use of polythene bags has found a wide applicability in modern society for packing and storing as carry bags. However, unfortunately the polythene bags being made of synthetic compounds still there does not exist any process to break them down in the nature. As such they are known as non biodegradable and become socially environmental disaster. In one estimate the decomposition of plastic bags takes about 400 years or even more.
ill effects
*All the a biotic components viz; land/soil, air and water are badly influenced by the use of polythene bags. Their presence in the soils prevents the sunlight exposure, disturbing, thereby, the soil temperature. Disturbed soil temperature destroys the soil microorganisms which as a result decrease the soil fertility. Polythene bags on burning release toxins in the air which cause air pollution. Such toxins are dioxins and furans. They also act as mutagenic and carcinogenic agents. The polythene bags have a chemical coatings which react with water to produce water pollution.
*Biotic components of environment i.e, animals and plants are also affected by the use of plastic bags. Sometimes they find themselves in the stomach of stray animals and marine life chocking them to death just as they choke drain and sewers, rivers, beaches and streets turning them into huge sprawling over plastic bags dumps. It is point to mention that 60% of stray cows die due to consumption of polythene bags. The ingested polythene bags disrupt the process of fermentation and mixing of contents that lead to indigestion. Not only this, through dairy and animal products the plastic residues enter into the human food chain. Worse, the polythene bag remains intact even after an animal that has eaten and becomes dead. Nearly one lakh animals in the world like dolphins, turtules, whales, benguins are killed every year due to plastic bags.
*Apart from negative impact of polythene bags on the environment, disposed polythene bags are also health risks, especially when water gets collected in them. The water so collected helps in breeding mosquitoes and, thus, spread malaria and denguas as well as water borne diseases.
* After using, the thrown away polythene bags are blown by winds, reach the drains and cause blockade in drains/sewage systems of cities and eventually cause water logging. Both Jammu and Srinagar cities are facing this situation. Out of more than 350 tonnes garbage/waste produced in Jammu city, about 15 per cent of which consists of plastic material, is amenable for causing water logging during rainy season in Jammu city, especially in Krishna Nagar, Bhagwati Nagar, Talab Tillo etc. The canal which passes through many localities of the Jammu city, has become a big dumping ground and almost clogged by polythene bags and other soild waste dumped by the people. Kashmir valley’s fragile ecosystem was also umder severe pressure from plastic bags menacc. The non-degradable material brought a great havoc with what was once serene environment of the valley. The biggest causality of this plastic bags threat has also been observed in the famous Dal lake due to large quantity of its reconsumption in the valley despite ban and dumping in the Dal lake. Dumps of garbage and clogged drains, almost all the water bodies of Kashmir valley present a spectacle, which is an indication of obnoxious ubiquity of polythene. At many places the plastic bags had clogged the drains. Polythene bags that are red or yellow bright in colour possessing heavy metals (Pb, cd) have also been seen in the clogged drains.
Strategies for minimizing the plastic bags
In the light of the aforesaid ill effects of polythene bags to the environment and ecology, this is the time when we must minimize or altogether avoid non-degradable pollutants such as plastics and heavy metals for entering the atmosphere in various stages. The use of plastics can be minimized using the following strategies.
*Creation of awareness
First and the foremost is the fact that many of the people still do not know about the ill effects caused by the polythene bags and other plastic material. Hence, there is a dire need to create awareness about the ill effects of the plastic among the people. While creating awareness among the general public, involvement of Panches and Sarpanches, and students both of schools and colleges be made. The Government must fix the responsibility to certain officers/officials preferably from State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to create awareness among common people by granting special incentives for them.
Similarly, general public should know about the ban on the use of polythene has come into force. More awakening is required to be done in this regard. To make ban more effective, SPCB and Municipal Corporation should launch sustained campaigns to generate awareness among the general public on polythene bags ban.
* Grow seedlings and flowers in earthen pots
Seedlings grown for promoting social forestry and flowers/other plants grown in various nurseries for sale should always be raised in earthen pots, jute pouches and coconut coir etc; instead of growing in polythene bags.
* Replace polythene bags
Fruit sellers, vendors and vegetable sellers are required to be advised to replace polythenes by paper or cloth bags or other eco-friendly bags. Since these things are not easily available in the market so the Government is required to appoint some authority in this connection. This will enable the sellers/vendors to obtain eco-friendly material to replace polythene bags.
* Use of glass, ceramic, and Cotton pillows
Always use glass, ceramic and metal ware in kitchens instead of plastic kitchen ware. Similarly, utilize cotton pillows and mattresses in place of polyurethene foam mattresses and pillows. Plastic toys should be replaced by metallic and ceramic toys.
* Polythene ban and its awareness
The polythene ban drives, public awareness campaigns, fine imposition which mentioned intensely during the first year of the ban must be continued for its full implementation.
* Co-operation of the shopkeepers
The shopkeepers must cooperate the various Government agencies amenable for calling to lessen the use of plastics keeping in view the ill effects created by the polythene bags on environment both of its abiotic and biotic components. Since chemicals present in plastics are very dangerous for land, air water as well for the humans and animals. They cause endocrine disruption which may lead to cancer, birth defect, immune system suppression and developmental problems in children. Thus, there is need to avoid their use completely.
( The author is Ex Associate Dean Cum Chief Scientist KVK, SKUAST, Jammu )
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