Plastic ban is easier said than done

Bengaluru: For five years now, different political parties and governments have tried to ban the use of plastic. But many announcements and attempts later, the city has not been able to get rid of plastic less than 40 microns. The state government might have asked the BBMP to pass a resolution, but there’s a long way to go for the civic agency in enforcing the ban, feel experts.

A former KSPCB official suggests that the city needs practical solutions before the enforcement of the ban and there is no substitute for plastic. “The city is highly dependent on plastic because it’s convenient and comfortable to use. Now, if this has to be banned, there should be suitable alternatives. Do we have a practical solution for alternatives? Since we do not, the government has to take action step-by-step,” he said. The former official emphasized that the ban should be enforced in phased manner before a blanket ban is imposed.

“It’s not easy to the control movement of plastic. Hence, the BBMP should focus on segregation of waste. If garbage is segregated into dry and wet, plastic does not become a menace. It can be used for co-processing and can even be recycled and reused. In the later stage, the use of plastic can be streamlined. The BBMP should learn how to deal with plastic,” he said.  Solid Waste Management Round Table founder N.S Ramakanth says the implementing authority, the BBMP, has to become stricter if the city has to become plastic free.

“The High Court made segregation of garbage mandatory, but the BBMP failed to follow it.  Since 2010, the government wanted to ban plastic below 40 microns but was unable to achieve it. There is no political and administrative will to enforce the ban. If the BBMP officials are penalised, they will fall in line,” he says.

Further, what is also hampering the plastic ban is import of less than 40 micron plastic from neighbouring states. Sources say that the import of plastic is much higher than the production within the state. Mayor Manjunath Reddy, who agreed, said that the BBMP is helpless without state government’s intervention to enforce the ban.

“Imports from other states have to be curbed, and for this, the state government should alert check-post officials. Also, we need to create awareness which is the need of the hour. If segregation is made mandatory, maybe we will be able to prevent plastic menace too,” he said. 

City’s tryst with the ban

• In September 2010, the then Mayor called for a ban on the use of plastics
• In March 2011, amid uncertainties there was ban on thin plastic bags
• In December 2011, Bengaluru citizen groups held a walkathon calling for a blanket ban on plastics
• In September 2012, after yet another talk of banning plastic, confusions existed if there was a ban and if it would work
• In December 2014 plastic factory owners promised to help BBMP to enforce ban on plastic below 40 microns
• In January 2015, before the BBMP elections, the Chief Minister promised to ban the use of plastic bags
• In September 2015, the CM yet again asked the BBMP to pass a resolution in the council to ban plastic