Despite ban, polythene bags still in vogue

BHUBANESWAR: Even as use of polythene bags of below 40 micron were banned in the city last year, implementation of the ban is far from satisfactory with a large number of shopkeepers still using them. Not just polythene bags, the ban is applicable to gutka sachets as well. As per the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Amendment Rules, 2011, use of polythene bags thinner than 40 micron is banned. For a city that generates over 500 metric tonnes of garbage on a daily basis, a majority of that being plastic waste, these polythene bags result in pollution in many ways. Most importantly, they choke drains and natural water channels. Even regular raids by a squad comprising eight to 10 officials of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) seem inadequate to curb the practice. Sources said around three quintals of polythene bags are required for Bhubaneswar market daily. However, the number of polythene bags higher than 40 micron being supplied to the market is much less than the required figure. “Under these circumstances, while some shopkeepers have started  using paper bags, there are many who are still using the plastic bags below 40 micron to pack commodities,” said BMC Environment Officer Bikram Keshari Routray. He said the BMC is mulling to impose fine on retailers and manufacturers who are dealing with such polythene bags. The fine amount would range between ` 500 and ` 1,000. “A decision in this regard will be finalised in a meeting scheduled later this month,” Routray said, adding that the move is aimed at implementing a complete ban on manufacturing and use of such  polythene bags. Till now, there was no fine imposed on the vendors found using bags below 40 micron. On the other hand, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) officials claimed even as the BMC has been directed to send the plastic waste generated from the city to the Bargarh cement kiln for co-processing, no such step is being taken. “The OSPCB had directed BMC to send the plastic waste on a regular basis for co-processing at the Bargarh cement kiln. Nothing such is being done though,” said environmental scientist of OSPCB Smruti Prava Samantray. This apart, she added, even as some malls in the city have been found charging ‘exorbitantly’ for polythene bags, BMC is doing little to curb the practice. These are still charging between ` 3 and ` 5 for polythene bags of over 40 micron, depending on the size. This is a violation of explicit pricing of carry bags and labelling under Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Amendment Rules, 2011.  Samantray said during a recent meeting of OSPCB with BMC,  price was fixed for the polythene bags but the Corporation is yet to come out with an official order.