The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A menace that is poisoning our lives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A menace that is poisoning our lives

Swathi Shivanand and Raghava M.

With the district administration and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike doing little, the plastic menace cannot be wished away in the near future

HEALTH HAZARD: A cow foraging for food in a pile of plastic waste at Basavanagudi in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Since the time it was first displayed in public domain in the early 1850s, plastic has become omnipresent. According to estimates, about 5 per cent of municipal waste generated by any city is plastic. Which means, of the 2,200 tonnes of waste Bangalore generates now, about 110 tonnes could be plastic.

For all the comfort that plastic has brought to our lives, there is much price to pay in way of the environment. In developing countries, effects of plastic have been well documented. A booklet by Centre for Environment Education (CEE), "Lesser plastics for a Better Future", lists out the problems plastic products could cause. It says that carry bags cause blockage of drains and sewer lines leading to disruptions in the drainage system. They cause choking of landmass, making it unfit for plants and micro-organisms.

Rag pickers are prone to various eye, skin and respiratory disorders when they pick the plastic waste barehanded. "Cows and street dogs consume plastic when they forage for food in garbage dumps," says Sukhprit Kaur, programme officer at CEE South.

Wilma Rodrigues of Saahas says: "With plastic being non biodegradable, they will stay with us forever. We must cut down on the disposable plastics — cups, plates and carry bags."

Recycling

While people may assuage their conscience by saying that plastic could be recycled and therefore, not pose such a problem to the environment, that is not true, says Ms. Rodrigues. Most recycling units in Bangalore do not follow the law, she says.

"Recycling plastic is also not a solution, as the products made of recycled plastic cannot be used to carry edible items or even for general use. They are not of good quality, especially because colour is added to them," she addes.

Recycled carry bags are not strong enough and actually end up in the gutter within 24 hours of use.

CEE has, in its study, found that when any edible item or water stored in recycled containers, toxic residues will leach into them. Improperly sorted waste containing toxic substances along with other plastic waste become part of the food grade containers.

Chandra Mohan of Plastic Manufacturers' and Traders Association admits that the recycling units are not functioning with enough safeguards.

"Recycling itself is not problematic. It is the foreign waste that gets along with the plastic that can be poisonous," he says. The association is willing to start a recycling unit if its application for land pending with the Government is cleared.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Chairman H.C. Sharatchandra draws a startling comparison to drive home the point on cutting down use of disposable plastic.

"A plastic cup takes anywhere between 50 years to 80 years to decompose whereas the average age of an Indian is 65 years."

Lalbagh not spared

Though the prestigious open spaces of the city — Lalbagh and Cubbon Park — are declared as green zones and the pollution control board had given support staff to enforce it, the drive here too leaves much to be desired.

Dr. Sharathchandra plans to launch a campaign after school examinations and involve students in clearing open spaces of plastic and then strictly enforce ban on the disposal of plastic.

On the other hand, increasing number of malls and department stores has meant only more use of plastics with utter disregard to its impact on the environment. People today prefer to bring home coriander leaves neatly packed in plastic paper. A shopkeeper who does not mind giving an "extra bag" is more likely to be described a customer-friendly.

The Hindu features a series on citizens and their concerns in this space every Wednesday. Readers may share experiences in relation to published articles and email their feedback or suggestions to bgreporters @ thehindu.co.in or post them to Public Eye, The Hindu, 19 & 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001. Mails must carry your full name and address.

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