Option to banning plastic bags

Options to banning plastic bags

Plastic bags have been banned by government on grounds that they are environmentally unsafe. They pose a hazard to animals and also clog drains. It is not clear if the production of plastic bags involves any climate related adverse effect. Apparently it does not- otherwise the plastic industry originating from the same basic chemical compounds would need to be banned.

Hence the real issue is in disposal, not so much production and use of plastic bags. Hence we need to look for solutions that severely reduce use and disposal of these bags. One and not unique solution is suggested. Observed behaviour indicates that people tend to hold on and reuse high quality plastic bags- even when they are free. Hence government should create incentives and disincentives for increasing use of high quality plastic bags. If ordinary plastic bags can be banned, it should be much easier to introduce high quality durable bags. Obvious advantage is reduction is waste turnover. Further it may be easier to separate such bags( when discarded) from rest of trash reducing hazard to animals and reduce clogging of drains. The high price of such bags, its attractiveness and durability would all ensure repeated use. These could also serve as effective advertisement medium –something ordinary plastic bags cannot do. Thus plastic bag producers could get a double relief- some relief from banned plastic plus additional revenue from advertments. There probably would be huge market for picking, treatment and recycling such discarded bags- both its price and ease of identification/retrieval should enable that.

Other options: Often it is suggested paper bags or cloth bags could replace plastic. Former would involve heavy and unsustainable environmental costs in tree losses. Paper bags are rarely of high durability and certainly not for all seasons. Latter would require land use changes when the source is jute raw material and are of course difficult carry easily (when not in use). Recycled material may be best but will be unable to meet India’s large and growing demand. Taxing use of ordinary plastic bags( in the normal sense) probably has superior alternatives as indicated