THERE is a ban on the polythene bag but it is now of no use. Rather use of this environmentally harmful item made a huge comeback everywhere with its pervasive presence. The ban imposed in 2002 is still in force on production, import, marketing, sale, display, storing, distribution, transportation and use of less than 55 micron thickness polythene. When most of the countries across the world are taking initiatives to prevent use of plastic or polythene bags to save the environment — at that time at least 20 million polythene bags are used everyday only in Dhaka, claimed Paribesh Bachao Andolon recently. It is also for human health.
We do not get any news about companies are fined for its production. According to newspaper reports about 1,200 polythene factories across the country are producing and marketing polythene bags defying the ban. And the consumers of all kinds are using them openly.
What is dangerous that, bioethanol-based ethylene is used as raw material to produce polyethylene and other polymers. For this chemical, the polythene bags cannot be rotten even after several hundred years. There is no technology to recycle the bags. These unused bags are usually dumped in drains, ponds, cannels, rivers, farmland and where not! At one stage it decreases the fertility of the cultivating lands. Not only that, 79% polyethylene mixes with water resulting in death of fishes and other aquatic animals in developing countries like Bangladesh.
We all, in some way or other, are involved in this collective guilt. In the earlier days, we saw that people used to go to the kitchen market with bags made of cotton or jute. The use of striped or solid colour jute or cotton bags with handle became so rampant that it is still fresh in our mind. We observed use of jute bags for a few days in previous year but now polythene bags have again returned.
The authorities concerned must bust the factories that produce the illegal item just before the law enforcers’ eyes. If they are able to do so, it will be a great environmental job. At the same time, we all will have to say ‘no’ to polythene bags to save our environment.
We do not get any news about companies are fined for its production. According to newspaper reports about 1,200 polythene factories across the country are producing and marketing polythene bags defying the ban. And the consumers of all kinds are using them openly.
What is dangerous that, bioethanol-based ethylene is used as raw material to produce polyethylene and other polymers. For this chemical, the polythene bags cannot be rotten even after several hundred years. There is no technology to recycle the bags. These unused bags are usually dumped in drains, ponds, cannels, rivers, farmland and where not! At one stage it decreases the fertility of the cultivating lands. Not only that, 79% polyethylene mixes with water resulting in death of fishes and other aquatic animals in developing countries like Bangladesh.
We all, in some way or other, are involved in this collective guilt. In the earlier days, we saw that people used to go to the kitchen market with bags made of cotton or jute. The use of striped or solid colour jute or cotton bags with handle became so rampant that it is still fresh in our mind. We observed use of jute bags for a few days in previous year but now polythene bags have again returned.
The authorities concerned must bust the factories that produce the illegal item just before the law enforcers’ eyes. If they are able to do so, it will be a great environmental job. At the same time, we all will have to say ‘no’ to polythene bags to save our environment.
