Despite ban on use of plastic bags in most States and Union Territories, a recent study conducted in Chandigarh, Sikkim and Delhi shows that it is being rampantly used not only by roadside vendors but even by big brand stores. The study finds that it is a big urban phenomenon. Though aware of its hazardous effects, most of the people covered under study continued to use it as a matter of convenience and easy availability.
The study called “Plastics and the Environment — Assessing the Impact of the Complete Ban on Plastic Carry Bags” has been conducted by Toxics link, an organisation that works on management of various kinds of waste. It was conducted with the objective of checking the compliance of plastic bag ban, reasons for success and failures and providing alternatives for improving the compliance.
Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules notified in 2011 bans the use of plastic bags with thickness less than 40 microns. Delhi Government had issued a notification for a blanket ban on the use of all kinds of plastic bags in 2012.
The study surveyed a total of 834 respondents in Delhi. It was found that majority of consumers and vendors continue to use plastic bags in spite of the ban. Plastic bags are freely available in the market areas and there seem to be no check on its usage.
Total number of respondents in Chandigarh were 500, of which about 74 per cent of the consumers and 75 per cent of the vendors used plastic bags because of convenience. In Sikkim, on the other hand, the usage of plastics bags was comparatively lesser. Newspaper wrappings and paper bags were being used as alternatives to plastic bags.
On the positive side, the study, however, found increased awareness level among both vendors and consumers on the harmful impacts of plastic on environment. As per the study, 80 per cent of the vendors and 70 per cent of the consumers were aware of the ill effects of plastics, who however continue to use them.
“Plastic bags not only clog the drains hitting the urban sewage system but fills up the landfill spaces and dumping of plastic bags on land leads to toxic elements such as lead and cadmium pigments leach into the underground water,” says Priti Mahesh, Chief Programme Coordinator, Toxics link.