KARACHI: Simply slapping a ban on polythene bags will have little impact on their mass use unless the government creates awareness of their hazards and provides the people with inexpensive, reusable environment-friendly alternatives.

Moreover, the management of plastic refuse is only a part of a bigger problem — the absence of an efficient waste collection and management system across the province. The first step towards the solution to the problem lies in segregating waste at source, a strategy successfully adopted by many countries.

These points were raised by experts Dawn spoke to on the recent government ban on polythene bags that includes all kinds of (non-biodegradable) lightweight plastic material used for packaging, wrapping etc.

They also questioned the need for a notification on the ban given the fact that rules on prohibition of non-degradable plastic had existed since 2014 as part of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act.

The March 21 notification of the government said: “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 144 (I) CrPC, the government, do hereby impose a complete ban on manufacture/sale/purchase of non-biodegradable polythene bags/plastic products in Sindh with immediate effect till further orders.”

Stress segregating waste at source, refuse management, recycling and enforcement of laws

According to the notification, the ban has been imposed to avoid environmental pollution, choking of drains and to minimise health risks to citizens associated with use of these non-biodegradable polythene bags and plastic products or any other material “in contravention of Sindh Prohibition of Non-degradable Plastic Products (Manufacturing, Sale and Usage) Rules, 2014 and the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014.”

Apart from the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), it authorises the SHO/police station concerned to register complaints under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code against violators.

Studies have found that plastic harms the environment and all forms of life in numerous ways. The long list of plastic’s harmful impact on the environment includes release of toxic chemical/s both into the air and the soil, if it is burnt or it remains buried in the soil.

It can also seep into the ground and mix with groundwater, making water unhealthy both for humans and agriculture. It may also cause death of marine life.

Internationally, there is a difference of opinion over how environmentally safe biodegradable plastic carrier bags are. Many believe that though they do not last as long as non-biodegradable plastic bags do, they still do not present a clear improvement.

Segregation of waste

Sharing his opinion on the ban, Dr Moazzam Ali Khan of Karachi University’s Institute of Environmental Studies, pointed out that the government needed to look at the bigger picture to effectively address the problem of plastic refuse, which constituted around 13 per cent of the 60pc recyclable waste.

“Unfortunately, we neither have a uniform system for waste collection nor waste disposal. A large quantity of refuse generated in the city daily is not picked up at all by civic agencies and remains in the city, causing environmental pollution,” he said.

According to him, an absolute rejection of plastic carrier bags is neither possible nor a solution as they are used for waste segregation and collection. “While we must cut down on their massive use and find environment-friendly alternatives, there is a need to focus on refuse management and recycling industry.”

The first step, he said, should be containment of the waste through its segregation at source. Municipalities in many countries used colour-coded plastic container system for segregating waste and its collection.

“The segregated waste is handled and treated separately. In our case, however, the entire waste, including the highly infectious medical waste constituting around 25pc of the total waste, is thrown out in the street.”

This hazardous practice, Dr Khan pointed out, turned the entire waste infectious. “This practice not only poses a serious threat to public health at large but directly puts health and safety of hundreds of waste pickers at grave risk.”

Trash, he said, often remained at garbage dumps for at least a day before it was picked up by civic agencies, increasing public health risks.

Dr Khan also raised concern over the open burning of garbage, a routine practice in many areas. “People are generally unaware of how polluted air is damaging our health. They should intervene if they see someone doing this in their neighbourhoods and the government should also play its role by taking up such cases.”

Seconding his opinion, Dr Atif Mustafa, associated with NED University of Engineering and Technology as an environmental engineer, said public awareness of plastic hazards was the key to the solution.

“Apparently, there is a government ban on using polythene bags but you can see every one of us is using them. What we desperately need is awareness of the issue and providing people with economical, reusable environment-friendly alternatives,” he said.

According to him, biodegradable plastic carrier bags are being manufactured and used at a very limited scale in the city. “It raises their cost. I think one strategy to discourage the use of polythene bags is to start charging consumers for them. Right now, they are almost free.”

Dr Mustafa also referred to his study conducted in the Jacob Lines area which showed that segregation of waste and its proper collection was possible with community’s cooperation.

“Segregation of waste at source makes collection and recycling easier and reduces transportation cost as well as carbon footprint,” he said.

Need to strengthen Sepa

Zubair Ahmed Abro, a senior environmental lawyer, said the government did not need to issue a notification on the ban since detailed rules on this subject already existed.

“The government only needs to strengthen Sepa to enforce the existing rules and regulations instead of giving powers to the police where there is always a chance of misuse.”

He explained that Section 188 of the PPC dealt with disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant, and the punishment was one month and a fine up to Rs600.

Asked about their role and actions, Sepa officials in a written reply to Dawn’s queries stated that they “have been relentlessly pursuing stakeholders to adopt the technology for manufacturing biodegradable plastic products for the last three years and have issued numerous notices to solicit support of the industry.”

Three companies, Sepa officials said, had been issued licences to sell their oxo-biodegradable additive in Sindh whereas three companies had already adopted this technology.

“Efforts are under way to bring other major sectors like sugar, cement, textile, hospitals etc into following the law and enforce it on small shopkeepers as well.”

According to Sepa data, 20 million kilograms of “flexible plastic has been converted into biodegradable plastic from 2014 to 2016 whereas last year 97,940kg of flexible plastic was converted into biodegradable plastic.”

The department also plans to launch a mass awareness campaign on the hazards of plastic.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2018