The govt.’s initiative to cease the utilization of illegal polythene baggage is now no longer attaining important success because of the shortcoming of on hand and inexpensive different attempting baggage.
No considered affect of the govt.s drives against polythene baggage is considered in quite lots of kitchen markets, grocery stores and vendors, with out reference to 1 month having elapsed for the reason that ban became enforced on 1 November.
Environmental activists, traditional of us and store house owners mentioned the govt.would possibly per chance per chance per chance like to calm level of curiosity on constructing proper and inexpensive strategies alongside stopping the manufacturing of polythene baggage and imposing boundaries on the import of polythene uncooked offers.
“The resolution to cease the utilization of polythene baggage is the right kind step. Nonetheless it’d be hard to cease it with out giving the of us efficient strategies, with out reference to how great strain is exerted,” mentioned Dr Lelin Chowdhury, govt president of Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba).
Noting that jute baggage like colorful most likely as strategies to polythene baggage, he instructed the govt.catch jute baggage cheap and on hand. If critical, the govt.would possibly per chance per chance per chance like to calm provide subsidies to catch jute baggage aggressive as they’re bio-pleasant and atmosphere-pleasant.
Regarding the govt.s earlier abortive effort to cease the utilization of polythene in the early 2000s, the environmental activist mentioned the success is per chance now no longer upheld as the then govt didn’t affect an efficient different following the ban on polythene for the time being.
He mentioned it is no longer a easy job to substitute the lengthy-standing behavior of the use of polythene baggage. “We’ll have to give of us efficient strategies to polythene baggage; otherwise, this initiative wouldn’t be a total success this time as properly,” mentioned Lenin Chowdhury.
Environmental activist Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder mentioned when polythene baggage had been first banned in 2002, the of us avoided the use of them for some days, fearing punishment. Nonetheless, they began the use of polythene all over again because of the shortcoming of proper different baggage.
“This time, there is level of curiosity most keen on the enforcement of the ban on polythene baggage. No step is seen with regards to manufacturing strategies,” he mentioned.
Dr Majumder, the chairman of the Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh, mentioned polythene baggage are manufactured in some 1,000 little factories in Dhaka and starting up air Dhaka. So, the govt.wants to pay more attention to shutting down the factories and creating boundaries to the import of its uncooked offers, he mentioned.
The strict enforcement of regulations, creating public awareness, stopping the manufacturing of polythene baggage, and constructing cheap different baggage wants to be performed simultaneously, mentioned Dr Majumder, who’s additionally the founder director of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Learn (CAPS) on the college.
Moin Uddin, a resident of West Shewrapara in the capital, became considered the use of four polythene baggage to carry vegetables and grocery items while getting back from the kitchen market in West Shewrapara on Wednesday.
Requested in regards to the utilization of illegal polythene baggage, he mentioned no cheap different salvage is on hand. “If the govt.surely wants to cease the utilization of polythene, it is going to calm first provide us with different baggage and cease the manufacturing of polythene baggage,” he mentioned.
Anisul Islam, a non-public service holder, became considered the use of three polythene baggage to carry vegetables purchased from vendors in Mouchak on his manner home on Thursday evening. He additionally blamed the shortcoming of strategies.
A vegetable vendor, Nurul Haque, at Anandabazar in Shewrapara, mentioned if polythene baggage are now no longer supplied to merchants, his sales would seriously decline as potentialities would possibly per chance per chance per chance also swap to other stalls.
“If the govt.would possibly per chance per chance per chance also cease the utilization of polythene baggage, my profits would increase. I wouldn’t have to use Tk 130-150 on buying polythene baggage daily,” he mentioned, adding that some 170-200 polythene baggage are required for his store daily.
Shafiqul Islam, a grocery store proprietor in West Shewrapara, additionally criticised the govt.for enforcing the ban with out constructing different baggage.
“If I don’t provide polythene baggage, the merchants would possibly per chance per chance per chance also simply now no longer purchase from my store,” he mentioned, adding that some 250-300 polythene baggage are required for his daily sales.
The grocery proprietor, alternatively, supported the notion of taking out polythene baggage from the market and called for stricter measures to cease their manufacturing.
“The behavior of merchants would possibly per chance per chance per chance like to calm substitute first. If proper different baggage are on hand, then the utilization of polythene baggage shall be stopped,” he mentioned.
Among the leading contributing causes of the overuse of disposable merchandise, along with baggage, bottles, straws, and packaging offers, is the failure to recycle them, which at remaining procure their manner into landfills, water bodies, and the natural atmosphere.
Unregulated Production of Plastic Merchandise
Plastic industries additionally make a contribution considerably to the growing mismanaged plastic damage in Bangladesh. There are about 5,000 plastic manufacturers working in Bangladesh, employing about 1.2 million folk (BIDA, 2021).
Bangladesh’s annual per capita plastic consumption in city areas tripled to 9.0 kg in 2020 from 3.0 kg in 2005. Consumption of LDPE packaging offers (plastic baggage, and loads others.) increased fivefold in 2020 from 2005. Of the 977,000 tonnes of plastic consumed in 2020, most keen 31 p.c became recycled.
Prime 10 plastic air pollution hotspots:
• China: 2.8 million tonnes per year
• Pakistan: 2.6 million tonnes per year
• Bangladesh: 1.7 million tonnes per year
• Russia: 1.7 million tonnes per year
• Brazil: 1.4 million tonnes per year
• Thailand: 1.0 million tonnes per year
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: 1.0 million tonnes per year
