As an informed citizen and environmental specialist, I rejoice over this positive move, and much like the rest of the Kathmanduites, offer it a red-carpet welcome. We may consider this a first step in our dream of a clean and green Kathmandu, free of not only plastic bags but also of hazardous wastes, sewages, carbon emitters and other forms of pollutions.During my Shimla visit last August, I had the opportunity to witness the plastic-free hilly station, and was fascinated by its greenery and beautification of its surroundings with pine trees. Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, was in fact among the first cities in India to ban plastic bags in August 2003. Illegally cutting down a single tree in this hilly station may lead to a heavy penalty, including years of imprisonment. I could not see a single piece of litter anywhere in the street, much less the polythene bags and improperly disposed solid waste. I had then wished the same to come true in Kathmandu.
The process of imposition of the ban has not been smooth and it has not been achieved in a single day, due to tensions among competing forces. The dismissal by Supreme Court on the ground of public health concern of the writ—one week before the scheduled ban date, cleared the last hurdle. The petition was filed by Nepal Plastic Manufacturers' Association that represents 300-strong plastic-manufacturing industries that collectively produce some 30,000 tonnes of plastic bags annually. They argued that the ban was made in haste and without necessary preparations, including the choice for alternatives to plastics.
Apparently, the ban represents a compromise. It backtracks from the earlier decision of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment Protection as well as of the Cabinet to ban all forms of plastic bags. And the notice is silent on production ban of the bags in the valley. Further, if the ban aims to achieve a clean and pollution-free place as stated by MoSTE, and relates to the public health concern, as held by the Supreme Court, why was the scope of ban limited to the valley?
Success, or otherwise, of the ban relies on its enforcement. In the past, similar attempts have failed. In 2011 MoSTE had come up with 'Plastic Bags Control and Regulation Directives', barring companies and individuals from production, import and storage of polythene bags thinner than 20 microns, and had even provisioned fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 for producing and using such bags. But the regulation could not be enforced, due to fierce protest from the Association that had argued on the basis of investment and job loss.
Obviously, plastic-bag hazards affect human health, and other lives, and degrade environment on multiple fronts. The bags litter the landscape, and take hundreds of years to decompose even if dumped properly. After years of dumping, they may break down, but never bio-degrade. So, sooner or later, their toxins get released into the environment, thereby adversely affecting the health of organisms that come into contact with the toxin. If not disposed of properly, the bags can clog sewages, prevent ground-water seepage, pollute water bodies, and affect water habitats.
When plastic bags are blown by wind into trees and other plants, animals and birds can be mistaken for flowers and plants, and can die after eating the bags. Making matters worse, the ingested plastic toxin remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animals and birds, and thus can be ingested by other victims. If the bags are burnt, they release toxic fumes, which can damage human health and lead to cancer when inhaled.
Plastic bag production process isn't environmental friendly. Every year some 100 million barrels of oil are burnt to produce plastic bags around the world, thereby adding to air pollution and taking away much of the vital resources needed to meet other energy requirements.
The ban is bound to have some effect on plastic manufacturers, but they would be far from being out of business. The ban only affects production of thin plastic bags, and the affected volume is limited to that being consumed in the valley. Concurrently, this will generate a new business opportunity to other support industries that produce biodegradable and recyclable bags, such as papers, jutes and cloths. For consumers, this may mean more frequent recycling of their bags or paying more from their pocket for more expensive alternative bags. Further, unless its hygienic condition is maintained, recycled bag itself may become a source of contamination.
Towards the goal of making the capital and the country clean and pollution free, besides the plastic ban, the state must go through another long to-do list. But for now, the real test is whether or to which extent the enacted ban can be effectively implemented. Making it a success depends not only on the efforts of the state authorities but also of Kathmanduites.
The author holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the National University of Singapore
sandhyaregmi2000@gmail.com
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