Press Release
10 May 2002

A BAN LONG DUE
Banning one-time non-reusable plastics is a good first step.

> The recent proposal by the TamilNadu government to ban certain types
> of
> plastic items is a welcome move. The proposed Tamil Nadu Plastic
> Articles
> (Prohibition of Sale, Storage, Transport and Use) Bill, 2002
> encompasses
> those applications of plastics that are visibly polluting - the one-time
> use
> or "non-reusable" items. The ban also appears to be more comprehensive
> because of 2 primary reasons:
>
> 1. It just does not restrict itself to the plastic carrybags alone
> 2. It does not place emphasis whatsoever on the micronage (thickness)
> which
> is highly ineffective in the current law dealing with plastics. It is
> well-known that mere bans on plastic carrybags alone has not been
> successful
> in many parts. However in hill sations like Ooty and Kodaikanal the
> positive
> environment and attitude change is clearly visible after carrybag
> bans.
> Tourists have welcomed the move and are now thronging in larger numbers
> to
> these areas.
>
> Plastic carrybags, cups and other plastic items such as tumblers,
> plates
> etc. generated from eating establishments get strewn around and these
> promote disease-carrying organisms to accumulate and spread. They
> choke
> soils and prevent permeation. When burnt with mixed waste, certain
> types
> of plastics release noxious vapours, include toxic dioxins, that are
> dangerous to public health. It is now common knowledge that burning
> mixed
> plastics especially at open dumpsites and street corners at absolutely
> unregulated conditions is particularly hazardous. Recent research has
> shown
> that women living near dumpsites in developing countries have
> carcinogenic
> dioxin in their breast milk. Perungudi dumpsite in Chennai is no
> exception.
>
> Skeptics feel that such a ban maybe difficult to implement. However,
> whatever maybe the reason, these plastics are made from downcycling and
> use
> chemicals that are potentially damaging to human health and the
> environment.
> The items listed under the proposed ban are redundant and can easily
> be
> replaced with existing alternatives. There is no reason why such a ban
> should be opposed.
>
> Infact this is a good first step and was long overdue. The plastics
> industry
> is to face the consequences because of its own failure to come up with
> responsible long-term solutions.
>
> The ban should not stop here, but should go many steps further to
> regulate
> PET bottles and plastics used in packaging. In these efforts
> particularly,
> it should be mandated that the industry take back (Extended Producer
> Responsibility) the products it puts out and deals with them off in an
> environmentally sound manner. The Bill comes at a right time to go
> hand-in-hand with the National Plastic Committee's recommendations that
> are
> soon expected.
>
> No plastics in the Environment (NoPE) a nationwide coalition of groups
> opposing plastics strongly urges the TamilNadu Legislators to consider
> the
> Tamil Nadu Plastic Articles (Prohibition of Sale, Storage, Transport
> and
> Use) Bill, 2002 favourably and enact it into law without further
> delay.
>