Bid to curb plastic menace falters

By T.Nandakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 25. The capital city is struggling to cope with tonnes of plastic wastes which litter the streets, choke drains and pollute the environment, even as the district administration and City Corporation remain helpless in tackling the menace. Excepting a few token gestures, efforts to enforce restrictions on the use of plastics have been ineffective.

Early this year, the City Corporation had announced its intention to ban plastics which can't be recycled, once the garbage processing plant at Vilappilsala became operational. But months after the plant started functioning, the local body is yet to honour its commitment.

The plant which is based on composting technology to turn garbage into organic manure is not equipped to handle plastic wastes. Local people who are opposed to the garbage plant allege that the plastic wastes are burned at the site creating toxic fumes.

Plant managers maintain that the plastic wastes are sorted out and sent to recycling units in Tamil Nadu through agents on a weekly basis. But when the Pollution Control Board carried out an inspection of the plant last month on instruction from the High Court, the operators were unable to produce despatch documents.

The Local Administration Department has issued a circular entrusting local bodies with the responsibility of creating plastic-free zones and to take action against those guilty of littering plastic wastes. But there has been no follow-up action.

Late last year, the District Collector issued orders banning the use of recycled plastic carry bags to handle food stuff. The ban was enforced in the wake of a High Court order and instructions from the Environment and Forest Ministry. The ban pertained to the use of carry bags for packing, storing and transporting food stuff. But in the absence of proper enforcement, even this ban is observed more in the breach.

It is estimated that the city generates as much as 2,200 kg. of plastic refuse every day, the bulk constituted by disposable bags, cups and containers. An average of 25 to 30 carry bags reach a house every week. This works out to an annual consumption of 16 crore bags in the city. Out of the total plastic wastes, households contribute 5.6 per cent, markets and commercial areas 13.29 %, hotels and restaurants 3.64 % and hospitals 9.13 %.

With most plastics taking up to 100 years to break down, they cannot be considered for normal solid waste disposal systems. Mounds of plastic refuse are burnt on the streets releasing toxic fumes.

The major pollutants in the plastic industry include human carcinogens like benzene, cadmium, dioxins and vinyl chloride. While benzene, cadmium and vinyl chloride are by-products in the manufacturing process, dioxins are released during incineration. It is estimated that plastics constitute 7.3 per cent of the solid waste in the city. Thin carrybags containing polyethylene and polypropylene compounds cannot be recycled.

The plastic menace is directly linked to the increasing use of the synthetic material to replace wood, metal and other traditional substances. Bottles, tumblers and sheets made of polyethylene, PVC pipes, roofing sheets and electrical insulation and toys, containers and household equipment made of polystyrene contribute to the problem.

The ubiquitous disposable plastic covers are the worst pollutants with bulk quantities reported even from forest areas. The legislative committee on environment had recommended a ban on dumping and burning plastic wastes in open places.

Studies point out that plastic waste brings down the fertility of the soil by retarding the biological process and blocking the seepage of water into the earth. It also hinders root growth and kills earthworms and other micro-organisms. Last year, a deer at the city zoo died after consuming plastic bags left behind by visitors.

Experts recommend a multi-pronged strategy including educating the public, re-use of plastics, development of alternative materials and utilising the services of ragpickers. The promotion of reusable glass bottles, earthenware and other biodegradable products like coir, cloth jute and paper bags to reduce consumption of plastics could help to some extent in regulating the use of plastics.

A couple of NGOs and private enterprises have come forward to propagate paper, cloth and jute bags on a commercial scale, but with lack of adequate support from the administration, they have remained isolated attempts.

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Section  : Southern States
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