Today the 3rd of July is being observed as the “International No Plastic Bag Day.”We the Sustainable Development Forum Nagaland (SDFN) hope that just knowing about this day will help make people aware about the unsustainable and rampant use and abuse of plastic shopping bags and maybe resolve to avoid or reduce them from our daily lives. Plastic bags – especially those that are below 40 microns - are an unnecessary environmental hazard because so many eco-friendly options like paper or canvas shopping bags or cane baskets exist but we often choose not to use them.Even in a developed country like the United States, it is estimated that every year, 68 lakh tonnes of plastic are produced but only 4.5 lakh tonnes are recycled. India generates 5.6 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with Delhi - according to a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - generating the most at about 689.5 metric tons daily. We are no sure how much plastic wastes our towns generate as there is no segregated data available but on an average, it is estimated that Kohima generates about 50 metric tonnes of waste. The issue of plastic bags and their waste management is really challenging especially in a state like ours. Almost all the plastic bags we use, if they do not end up in landfills ultimately end up on our streets, sidewalks or get caught in streams, tree branches and almost everywhere. We just need to look around and this is visible everywhere.
Under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules of 2011 came into effect from 4th February, 2011. The Government of India through its Ministry of Environment and Forests notified that “no carry bags will be made available free of cost to the consumers by the retailers”. Concerned municipal authorities were also provided with powers to determine the minimum price of the carry bags. The notification further extended the ban on plastic below 40 microns across the country. Accordingly, every state, including Nagaland is to have a State Level Advisory Body (SLAB) to monitor the implementation of the above Rules. State Pollution Control Boards are to prepare and submit annual reports to the Central Pollution Control Board by 30th September each year on these matters. The Pollution Control Board of India in its status report of July 2011 states that the Government of Nagaland through a notification dated 1st January 2004 has imposed a complete ban on the use of plastic bags across the state
Given the circumstances, the state and retailers are to take steps to phase out plastic bags but avoid it altogether but this has not been successful as yet. On the other hand, customers would rather pay the nominal extra amount or shopkeepers are just happy to give the bags for free so long as customers are kept happy and satisfied. The issue, therefore is not just about payments and rules but more so with the lack of responsibility and wasteful nature of society at large.
While governments can set up Acts and Rules, it is ultimately up to each and every one of us citizens to ensure that we respect and observe them, rather than waiting for the agencies to ‘implement’ or ‘enforce’ rules. Can’t we take it upon ourselves to take care of our own environment? Such rules, after all are not for the government but for us and for our future generations and we as custodians of our planet have this crucial responsibility.
The enforcement of such rules and habits may somewhat be difficult and change might not happen immediately but we have to keep trying. It may initially inconvenience us – shoppers - but if we don’t try, who will? We can and must learn to avoid the unnecessary use of plastic carry bags. We must relearn to carry our own cloth bag, cane basket or some ‘bio-degradable’ bag with us while going for shopping. Say “No” to plastic bags. Let us all try and break out of the plastic bag habit.
As part of the international event and to try and spread the message, SDFN with volunteers from Baptist College and others collaborated with numerous business establishments in Kohima and distributed recycled paper bags with the message “Say No to Plastics”. While such small initiatives or even this article might not altogether stop people from using and abusing plastic bags, we hope that the message will spread and create the required awareness amongst the masses. In this case, just remember “Nothing is Better”. Rather than worrying about waste management, let us first think of arresting the generation of waste itself.
Issued by Sustainable Development Forum Nagaland (SDFN)
