Plastic waste is ubiquitous. Plastic bags have made it easier for people to fling their garbage from running vehicles thereby turning roads and streams into veritable garbage dumps. Why is plastic going to be the nemesis of humankind if things are not quickly reversed? Firstly, plastics are made to last forever yet 33% of plastics comprising water bottles, bags, straws, cups, spoons etc., are used and thrown. Plastics as we are well aware are non-biodegradable. Burning plastics releases highly toxic air yet people continue to burn plastics out of ignorance. Toxic chemicals are used to make plastics and to give them the strength and flexibility. Studies have shown that those toxic chemicals leach out into the blood and tissues of humans and animals. This results in cancer, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruptions amongst others.
Only 8% of plastic waste is recycled; the rest end up in landfills and is burned or becomes litter. While big brands such as Marks and Spencer’s, Reebok et al have started giving paper carry bags for a while now, other smaller stores continue with their use of plastic bags. The reason why big brands have stopped using plastic bags is because they have to adhere to international standards which are stringent and they would have been fined heavily if they were to still use plastic carry bags. Hence while it is easier to extract compliance from big brands, India has not been able to curtail or stop the use of plastics by many of its food manufacturing companies that use plastic and aluminium coated wrappers. In the polluter pays principle it is the manufacturer of plastics that should be made to pay for recycling or safe disposal of plastics – a technology we are yet to develop. Meghalaya is a small state that cannot afford landfills. It has to devise means to develop waste recycling plants at the community level. Now that some wisdom must have dawned on the ministers of the new Government after visiting Kerala to see its waste disposal system, we hope to see some action soon on this front. If not Meghalaya will be buried under plastics! For starters, Government should just ban plastic carry bags!
