A group of interns, led by Anjum Jain (B Pharm-2nd yr, DIPSAR, DPSRU) has carried out a study titled ‘Plastic Bags –A Bigger Threat than Atom Bomb’ during Autumn 2019 Batch of Internship held by Consumers India in collaboration with THE SOCIETY FOR UPLIFTMENT OF MASSES (SUM), An NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The study was ably mentored by Dr Geeta Kumar
Prior to that, about 6 years back, Neharika Sobti (B Com (H)-SRCC, DU) and Siddhant Sharma (B Com LLB (H)-Amity University, Rajasthan) had prepared a study report on the same subject, during Internship Programme held in 2013-14 by Consumers India, under able guidance of Dr Roopa Vajpeyi.
Both the studies have raised important issues and concerns. An abridged version of both the study reports on this subject, as also link to video prepared on this subject are given below. Full text of letters sent to Prime Minister and others as a part of our advocacy campaigns is also given below.
An abridged version of both the study reports, as also link to video prepared on this subject are given below. Full text of letter sent to Chief Minister of Delhi and others as a part of our advocacy campaigns is also given below.
The video prepared by the Group led by Anjum Jain
can be seen on the following link:
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Recent Update
Single-use Plastic still a Common Sight!
‘2 years after ban, single-use plastic still a common sight in Delhi’- reported Hindustan Times on July 2, 2024. It was mentioned that two years since the country-wide ban on 19 single-use plastic (SUP) came into force, little has changed on the ground. During the spot check by HT, the rampant use of plastic cutlery was visible, apart from plastic bags with thicknesses varying from 10 to 15 microns. The standard thickness for such items is at least 120 microns.
The ban was notified on July 1, 2022, after which enforcement teams formed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and other Urban Local Bodies (ULB) set out to identify and penalise violators. The list of such violators includes anyone selling, stocking, manufacturing or importing these items, with a fine of ₹5,000 to be imposed per violation. Though some fines have been imposed, nothing much has changed in reality.
A study released in October last year by the NGO, Toxics Link, found that among the five cities it took into account, Delhi was the least compliant with the ban, among Bengaluru, Mumbai, Gwalior, and Guwahati. The study found the banned SUP items in 88% of the stores or markets it surveyed in Delhi. Stricter enforcement is the need of the hour.
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Interesting Development!
‘Hey Delhi, got some plastic bottles and cutlery? Visit these
‘garbage cafes’ for your FREE lunch!’
-reported Financial Express on 29 January, 2021!
Ever wondered that empty plastic water bottles, canes and other plastic waste could fetch you a lavish free meal? The time has come to preciously collect all the plastic garbage from your surroundings to get a free meal at select restaurants in Delhi. According to the latest ‘garbage cafe’ scheme launched by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), each person who deposits 1 kg of plastic waste to the SDMC will get a free meal at the select restaurants which have been partnered by the municipal body, news agency PTI reported.
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Plastic Bags –A Bigger Threat than Atom Bomb Mr Anjum Jain, B Pharm-2nd yr, DIPSAR, DPSRU (W-101) - Group Leader
Ms Yashika, B Pharm-2nd yr, DIPSAR, DPSRU (W-102)
Ms Komal Kumari, B Pharm-2nd yr, DIPSAR, DPSRU (W-103)
Ms Ishita Jaiswal, B Com (P)-3rd yr, Dyal Singh College-DU (W-104)
Ms Simran Dhall, History (H)-completed-KNC-DU (W-106)
Mentor: Dr Geeta Kumar
INTRODUCTION
5 trillion plastic bags were consumed during the year 2019. That’s 160,000 a second! Put one after another they would go around the world 7 times every hour!
The word ‘plastic’ comes from the Greek verb plassein, which means "to mold or shape”. By definition, plastic is a material composed of any of the wide range of synthetic or semi synthetic organic compounds that are malleable and can be molded into solid objects of diverse shapes. The primary stage of plastic is obtained from crude oil.
Plastic bag pollution has become an epidemic. Plastic bags are detrimental to human health because of the chemicals used in their production. Humans are exposed to such toxins through air and water, through food such as fish and through direct contact with plastic products.
IMPACT OF PLASTIC ON THE BIOSPHERE
The effect of plastic bags on our environment is quite devastating. The amount of plastic bags manufactured in the first ten years of this century, eclipses the total produce in the entire last century. Synthetics that plastic bags are made out of have harmful imprint on the biosphere as a whole.
Impact on Air: Most plastics are made out of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, which release toxic emissions when released from Earth. Crude oil gets converted to a vast array of products, including plastic bags, which require several operational stages that emit dozens of pollutants that are making our skies smoggier, hazier and more toxic. Not to mention methane gas that can leak and cause greater greenhouse effect.
Refining fuels and processing them into plastic bags can create even more toxic emissions. Production of plastic releases carcinogenic gases into the air like dioxins and benzene which are associated with respiratory, reproductive and immune system disorders.
About 12% of municipal solid waste is plastic and about 40% of garbage is burned. Incineration of plastic bags in open field is a major source of air pollution. It releases toxic gases like furan, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls into the atmosphere, and poses a great threat to vegetation, human health and animals. Recycling of plastic bags also emits noxious gases into the atmosphere.
Impact on Water: About 8 million tonnes of plastic goes into the ocean every year. It's quite alarming and shameful that India's contribution to plastic waste that is dumped into the ocean every year is massive 60%. Plastic bags break into smaller units called microplastics in water bodies which are usually impossible to recover and traces of these are found in municipal water supply, fishes and other marine creatures. This has disastrous effect on health.
Not only plastic bags have polluted the water bodies, but have managed to injure and kill fish, seabirds and animals!
Impact on Land: Most of the plastic bags end up in landfills. Key chemicals in formulation of plastic bags like bisphenol A act as a deadly waste. Chlorinated plastic bags can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources and also the ecosystem of the world. This can cause serious harm to the species that drink this water.
Another concern is that the liners acting as protective layers between the landfill and environment can break, thus leaking toxins and contaminating the nearby soil and water. Landfills located near oceans often contribute to ocean debris because content is easily swept up and transported to the sea by wind or small waterways like rivers.
SOME RECENT STEPS
Prime Minister, in his address to the Nation on 15th August, 2019, has addressed concerns relating to plastics! He has urged the people to do away with ‘Single-use Plastics”!
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has passed regulation to ban all polythene bags less than 50 microns on 18 March 2016. Regional authorities (States and municipal corporations), have also formulated their own regulations.
In 2016, Sikkim, India's first fully organic State, banned the use of not only packaged drinking water bottles in any government meetings or functions but also food containers made from polystyrene foam all over the state.
Himachal Pradesh was the first state to ban plastic bags less than 30 µm.
Karnataka State became the first state to ban all forms of plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic bunting, flex, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic spoons, cling films and plastic sheets for spreading on dining tables irrespective of thickness. Above items made of thermocol were also banned.
The State of Goa has banned bags up to 40 µm thick, while the city of Mumbai bans bags below a minimum thickness to 50 µm.
The State Government of Maharashtra banned plastic from 23 June 2018.
The State Government of Tamil Nadu also banned plastic from 1 January 2019.
CONSUMER SURVEY (480 RESPONDENTS)
85% respondents are aware of the harm that is caused to the environment, and aquatic life by plastics bags, but 75% still use plastic bags
33% always bring their own shopping bags, while 50% bring it sometimes
76% feel that they can manage, if plastic bags are completely eliminated
43% said that their local grocer still keeps the plastic bags, though does not give it readily
63% are aware of the current laws about ban on plastic bags
67% strongly agree that plastic bags should be totally banned
64% feel that charging for plastic bags is a good idea and will help discourage its usage
TIPS FOR CONSUMERS
Avoid plastic bags. If you have to use, make sure that it is above 50 micron in thickness.
Use cloth bags. Keep a small one in your hand bag/ office or college bags. Keep a couple of cloth/jute bags in your vehicle and use them whenever required.
Say no to plastic straws.
Reduce single-use plastic as much as possible and focus on reusable eco friendly materials. There is always a viable alternative for every single use plastic.
Do not buy plastic water bottles when outside and make a rule to always take your own steel/glass/bronze bottle.
Avoid excessive use of plastic containers.
The smaller bins in bedrooms and washrooms do not need plastic liners. So avoid using them.
Use eco-friendly bags as garbage bags.
Educate your nearby shopkeepers and vegetable vendors to get rid of plastic bags.
A small effort by consumers will go a long way towards their own welfare as well as that of our mother earth!
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There can be a plan B, but not a planet B
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