‘International Plastic Bag free Day' to be observed on Saturday
Thiruvananthapuram: On Saturday, the capital city joins the rest of the world in observing International Plastic Bag free Day, even as environmental groups here have raised the demand for a total ban on plastic bags to check the environmental hazards caused by the material.
The slogan for this year's International Plastic Bag free Day is ‘Get the Bag out of your head.' The highlight of the day's programme in the city is a meeting of various groups producing paper bags, cloth bags and other eco-friendly options to plastic bags. The event is being organised by Thanal and the Zero Waste Centre.
The two organisations have urged the government for a total ban on plastic carry bags. Recently, Kanyakumari district imposed such a ban through local bodies, they point out. “Sustainable materials and products to replace plastic carry bags are available in the market. Many groups across the State are producing paper bags, cloth bags and bags made of various natural fibres. But these will never find a proper market till there is a ban on plastic bags,” says R. Sridhar, coordinator, Thanal.
The organisations are also demanding social and governmental support to manufacture products to substitute plastic bags. International Plastic Bag free Day is observed every year to focus attention on the hazards caused by the ubiquitous plastic carry bags. A pressnote issued here said plastic carry bags had become representative of all the destructive characteristics of the synthetic material. “From deep deserts to middle of the great oceans; from soil to intestines of animals it is present and is challenging the balance of nature.”
The pressnote observed that carry bags not only replaced sustainable materials but services and livelihoods as well. “By substituting cloth, leather, wood, mud, bamboo, reed and natural fibres, it has destroyed the livelihood of marginal, tribal and lower income groups in society.”
A million plastic bags are being consumed every minute across the globe. This amounts to 150 bags a year for every person on earth. The annual global consumption pattern of plastic carry bags is estimated to be one trillion. India produces two million tonnes of plastic carry bags and the per capita consumption is 150 bags a year. By 2011 this is expected to go up to 200 bags, bringing the country to the third position, behind the U.S. and China, in consumption of plastic carry bags.
Source: The Hindu, 2 June 2010
Thiruvananthapuram: On Saturday, the capital city joins the rest of the world in observing International Plastic Bag free Day, even as environmental groups here have raised the demand for a total ban on plastic bags to check the environmental hazards caused by the material.
The slogan for this year's International Plastic Bag free Day is ‘Get the Bag out of your head.' The highlight of the day's programme in the city is a meeting of various groups producing paper bags, cloth bags and other eco-friendly options to plastic bags. The event is being organised by Thanal and the Zero Waste Centre.
The two organisations have urged the government for a total ban on plastic carry bags. Recently, Kanyakumari district imposed such a ban through local bodies, they point out. “Sustainable materials and products to replace plastic carry bags are available in the market. Many groups across the State are producing paper bags, cloth bags and bags made of various natural fibres. But these will never find a proper market till there is a ban on plastic bags,” says R. Sridhar, coordinator, Thanal.
The organisations are also demanding social and governmental support to manufacture products to substitute plastic bags. International Plastic Bag free Day is observed every year to focus attention on the hazards caused by the ubiquitous plastic carry bags. A pressnote issued here said plastic carry bags had become representative of all the destructive characteristics of the synthetic material. “From deep deserts to middle of the great oceans; from soil to intestines of animals it is present and is challenging the balance of nature.”
The pressnote observed that carry bags not only replaced sustainable materials but services and livelihoods as well. “By substituting cloth, leather, wood, mud, bamboo, reed and natural fibres, it has destroyed the livelihood of marginal, tribal and lower income groups in society.”
A million plastic bags are being consumed every minute across the globe. This amounts to 150 bags a year for every person on earth. The annual global consumption pattern of plastic carry bags is estimated to be one trillion. India produces two million tonnes of plastic carry bags and the per capita consumption is 150 bags a year. By 2011 this is expected to go up to 200 bags, bringing the country to the third position, behind the U.S. and China, in consumption of plastic carry bags.
Source: The Hindu, 2 June 2010
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