Times of India

26 Sep 12

 

No Blanket Ban on Plastic

 

BANGALORE: Going the Delhi way by putting a blanket ban on its manufacture, sale, storage and use is not the solution to tackle the plastic menace, asserted Karnakata State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) chairman Vaman Acharya.

"We will instead put in place segregation units, either automatic or semi-automatic, where plastic can be recycled and converted into good alternative fuel for stationary engines," he said.

 

For this, the board is in talks with some entrepreneurs who are running these plants quite successfally. "The idea is to create value for all used-varieties of plastic and making segregated plastic a source of income for these entrepreneurs”  said Aeharya.

To be run in a few units, these plants will concert the heterogeneous heap of waste into a less heavy liquid form which will be homogeneous in nature.

"Mature technology is available in the city. The need is to first ensure that plastic is segregated and made into something useful. Later we can look at improving the quality of the manufactured fuel," said Aeharya.

and made into something useful. Later we can look at improving the quality of the manufactured fuel," said Aeharya.

 

KSPCB logic

 

Given that chappals, tyres, broken furniture, bottles and cloth material like nylon and polyester also comprise plastic, KSPCB chief Aeharya said it is difficult to impose a total ban on plastic.

Even if there is organic waste thrown in a plastic bag, it defeats the purpose of segregation. Significantly, BBMP has said that the pourkarmikas will refuse to take the organic waste put inside a plastic bag. The mandate makes it essential for citizens to empty the contents of the plastic bag into the waste pushcarts.

 

KSPCB, however, is considering the viability of banning plastic up to 40 microns. Currently, the ban is on plastic of 20 microns or less thickness. Thicker plastics are more environment-friendly than the thin ones for many reasons. Thin plastic bags are quite affordable compared to the thicker ones and are therefore not reused much. Recycling the same is quite difficult given that at least 2OO-odd plastic bags need to be collected to make it one kilogram (one of the reasons why ragpickers avoid picking them up too). Also, by virtue of being light-weight, these plastic bags disintegrate fast, thereby polluting the environment.