The Hindu : New Delhi News : Environmentalists upset over official stand on plastic bags

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 11, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Environmentalists upset over official stand on plastic bags

Staff Reporter

Resent statement by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh

NEW DELHI: Environmentalists have expressed surprise at the recent statement of Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh clarifying the government’s stand against a total ban on plastic bags in the country.

“The High Court had considered all aspects before coming up with a ban in the Capital. The Court had directed use of jute, cloth bag and bags made of recycled paper instead of plastic. It has also suggested that there should be re-use of plastic bags so that throw-away culture is kept under check and we are able to actively manage our growing solid waste,” said Vinod Jain, who has been working for a ban on use of plastic bags in the Capital.

The Capital has some 2,000 plastic recycling units which don’t adhere to BIS standards and are hazardous to both health and environment. “The plastic industry has never taken responsibility of setting up plastic recycling units which adhere to the BIS standards. We have to understand that while plastic in itself is not harmful, its disposal causes much harm to public health and environment,” added Mr. Jain.

Meanwhile, an associate of Save the Plastic Bags (India), part of a global eco-campaign, has welcomed the Minister’s statement.

“Developed countries have not banned plastic bag because an increasing number of studies suggest that paper bags are no environmental angel either. Worldwide there is growing evidence that the production, use and disposal of plastic bags put less burden on natural resources than paper bags,” said Varinder Arora of Save the Pastic Bags.

A release issued by Save the Plastic Bags (India) campaign said that thick quality plastic bags can be re-used and lots of products can be made out of them including water pipes and drain pipes and they can be used on roads and hills for stopping landslides. Paper bags are far worse for the environment than plastic bags, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi