Enforce safe disposal of plastic waste

A legislation to enforce safe disposal of plastic waste was necessary, said Alagappan Moses of the department of Environmental Science, Bishop Heber College,Bangalore.

Speaking at the launch of `Poly Blast- 2004,' organised by the Department of Visual Communication, Holy Cross College, he stressed the need for a legislative support to the campaign. For, the production of plastic went up from 1.88 million tonnes in 1995-96 to four million tonnes in 2001. Though plastic fetched foreign exchange to a tune of Rs.5500 crores per annum and provided direct and indirect employment to over two lakh persons, the damage caused by plastic waste to humans, wildlife and marine life was colossal.

Mr. Alagappan said plastic waste accounted for 15 per cent of the garbage in Tiruchi city limits, while the national average was projected at 10 per cent in 2000. The method of segregation at source and a strong system of recycling plastic waste followed in European countries should be replicated in India, he said, and observed that plastic could not be moulded if it was recycled more than twice. While burning of plastics led to emission of dioxins, the causative factor of cancer, incineration at temperatures in excess of 1,500 degree centigrade was advisable, he said.

Un-recycled plastic, he suggested, could be put to large-scale industrial application for tapping the benefits of its bacterial slime.

The hope for a safe environment, free from the debilitating impact of improper disposal of plastic waste, was possible if manufacturers adopted the latest technology by which the resins used for pellets could be freed from chloride to make the plastic products free from toxins. He said India had surpassed developed countries by recycling 60 per cent of plastic waste.

Earlier, elaborating on the international initiatives on environmental protection, Mr. Alagappan said of the 27 principles adopted at the Rio Summit three pertained to plastic. The National Environment Policy - 1970 of the United States recognised the right of citizens for a healthy environment and provided for formation of a council on environmental quality and convening of a global conference.

Mr. Alagappan insisted that notwithstanding the international and national summits, the educated masses should build a partnership with the public, for making their awareness campaign effective.

source : The Hindu