Say No to Plastic', a drive against single-use plastic - was launched by Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) management today. BSL CEO Pawan Kumar Singh appealed all to refrain from the use of plastic. Singh called upon the people residing in its township area as well as in the outskirts to come forward and work together with the Government to ensure that they protect the environment against all kinds of pollution and make the State as well as a country a plastic-free zone.
"The Government is a mirror image of the people and that it is time for the public to stop blaming the Government for everything and start taking initiative and actively participate in taking the State and country forward in all aspects," he added.On this move Town and Administrative (TA) department of plant management started, plastic waste collection drive; installed fifty special types of dustbins in its township.
Single-use plastics, often also referred to as disposable plastics, are commonly used for plastic packaging and include items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. These include, among other items, grocery bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery, said an official of TA Department. Speaking on the occasion BSL Public Relation official said, now a days plastic is a stern threat not only for human beings but for animals too. Plastic generally degrades in about 500 - 1000 years, though we may never know its actual degradation time, as this material has been in long-term use only since the last century, he said.
During its manufacture, many hazardous chemicals are emitted that can lead to dreadful diseases in humans as well as other animals. Ethylene oxide, xylene, and benzene are some of the chemical toxins present in plastic, which can have hazardous effects on the environment, said an expert of BSL plant. "It is not easy to dispose it off, and it can cause permanent harm to living beings. Several additives found in plastic, such as phthalates, adipates, and even alkylphenols, have been recognised as toxic materials. Vinyl chloride, which is used in the manufacturing of PVC pipes, is classified as a carcinogen," he added. Plastic bags start out as fossil fuels and end up as deadly waste in landfills and the ocean. Birds often mistake shredded plastic bags for food, filling their stomachs with toxic debris. For hungry sea turtles, it's nearly impossible to distinguish between jellyfish and floating plastic shopping bags. Fish eat thousands of tons of plastic a year, transferring it up the food chain to bigger fish and marine mammals.
Though, the toxic chemicals used to manufacture plastic gets transferred to animal tissue, eventually entering the human food chain. Styrofoam products are toxic if ingested and can damage nervous systems, lungs and reproductive organs, he said. As plastic is less expensive, it is overused. When it is disposed off in landfill sites, it does not decompose at a fast rate, and hence pollutes the land or soil in that area.