India’s Plastic Ban Failure is a Matter of Concern

Maharashtra has become the 18^th state in India to implement the complete plastic ban. However, the environmentalists are worried that like in the other states this will prove to be a failure unless people drop the plastic usage without having to fear the law. Undoubtedly, the worrisome statistics about the health and environmental issues caused by the use of plastic have pushed many states in the country to implement a complete ban. However, the ground reality is something else. While plastic usage has definitely decreased, the amount of plastic still being used is a huge matter of concern.

The complete plastic ban exists only in papers

The failure to ban plastic in India is being seen as a matter that needs immediate attention of lawmakers and the people alike. With strict laws in place already, India is struggling to go plastic-free. The environmentalists say that the reason behind the same is over-dependence on plastic and the idea of leading a plastic-free life does not seem feasible. It is, therefore, important for the citizens themselves to understand why the ban is important.

As a matter of facts, in most of the states, the plastic-ban is in place just on papers and not in reality. The government institutions are among the leading consumers of single-use plastic. The common people unaware of the health hazards linked to plastic continue to use plastic bags, plastic packaging, plastic cutlery, etc. every day. It seems that for a plastic ban to work, more than just law is needed.

India’s plastic waste and hazards

Maharashtra, that recently banned plastic, is the large producer of plastic waste in the country with over 4.6 lakh tonnes of plastic garbage being generated every year. Other states also contribute significantly. The largest proportion of this waste comprises polythene bags below 50 microns in thickness. A study has shown that a plastic bag is used only for 12 minutes at an average. If only the people could understand this and switch to reusable bags.

Plastic is posing a huge threat to ecology. The plastic bags used commonly cannot be recycled or disposed and therefore, go on to choke the drains and waste management systems and pollute the water bodies. The system of separating plastic garbage from organic one is in place according to the Central Pollution Control Board; however, nobody seems to care about it. This is precisely the reason that even the recyclable plastic ends up in plastic garbage dumps and landfills.

Plastic is emerging as one of the major threats to aquatic life with a huge number of sea and ocean animals dying due to plastic ingestion. The health issues caused by plastic in humans include diabetes, hormonal imbalance, high blood pressure, and even cancer. No wonder that all these health concerns are pretty prevalent these days.

The plastic ban in India has failed. What can you do about it?

Do not wait for the law to snatch that plastic bottle from your hands. Do your own research and find out why the plastic ban is so important and why failing to implement it is doing so much harm to your health and environment. Plastic-free lifestyle choice is the only way to get rid of all hazards linked to plastic.

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