SHILLONG, July 17: The Centre’s ban on single-use plastic has left many, including shopkeepers, confused in Meghalaya.
The banned products include decorative thermocol, cups, glasses, flags, ear buds, candy and ice-cream sticks, PVC banners under 100 micron thickness, wrapping films, stirrers, and cutlery. But many in Meghalaya misunderstood the ban as only on polythene bags.
Meghalaya has started enforcing the ban. Some people welcomed it.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) was supposed to spread awareness along with the Shillong Municipal Board, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Hima Mylliem.
The Shillong Times interacted with people on the streets and markets. Their common replies were: “We do not use polythene bags” and “We are just finishing our stocks of polythene bags.”
While most shops and stores were found to be slowly adapting to the new rules, the butcher shops and the fish sellers were found to be still using polythene bags.
A meat seller, who did not wish to be named, said he was aware of the ban but emptying the old stock.
“People are still using plastic bags in Iewduh but I have disallowed using the same in my shop,” said S Pariat, who is the owner of a confectionery store at Motphran.
PR Sharma, a grocer, said, “We use paper bags, so there is no problem. Also, most customers have started carrying their own bags.”
Talking about other items such as ear buds and ice-cream sticks, another shopkeeper said, “We need to finish our stock. We are selling the items and trying to finish them up.”
Wanpher Majaw, who was found attending to the cash counter at a departmental store at Nongmensong, said, “I both agree and disagree. Products like chips, which come in plastic packets, have not been banned yet.”
He said besides paper bags, the shop uses reusable and washable plastic bags. However, he continued, some customers are unwilling to use these.
Another essential store nearby was found to be using polythene bags above 100 micron for bigger items and paper bags for lighter items.
“Using paper bags is environmentally-friendly but it also costs more compared to plastic bags. The government should have its regulated paper bag supplier who sells it at a minimal rate,” said Subhash Thapa, a resident of Nongmensong.
He said carry bags made of cloth could be an alternative as they can withstand weight.
Meanwhile, an MSPCB official said plastic above 75 micron will only be allowed. Simplifying it, he said 75 micron is from the thickness point of view. It is expected to be reused as it is of thicker material. But from January 1 next year, plastic with thickness of 120 micron or more will be allowed, he added.
The official claimed the MSPCB had carried out an awareness drive earlier. He said 18-20 distributors at Iewduh had huge stocks but the same was found to have exhausted this month.
The official said old stocks that were less than 50 micron were seized from shops and bakeries.
“We are having issues only in wet areas (fish, meat markets). We are trying to look at an alternative. As a regulator, we can go and say stop this but what is the alternative? We can’t just trouble people,” the official said.
Stating that plastic comes to the state from outside, he said the MSPCB is asking the Centre to regulate manufacturing. He said the Board is now lenient but at some point, it will begin imposing penalty as mandated by the law.
On the lack of understanding that the ban extends beyond plastic bags, he said, “We have engaged radio for ten dedicated slots and are advertising through DIPR. We are also tying up with other agencies and volunteers. We will start hitting locality market areas.”
“We will enter every shop and make them understand. If we print pamphlets or flyers it will only add to solid waste. The best thing is to go to each and every shop,” the official added.
