Page 49 - Plastics News January 2018

FeAtures
FEATURES

Is Plastic Industry Eco Terrorist?

The MoEF wants to draw the plan for phasing out the litter problem and before it is implemented, State
Governments want to ban the plastics use

hese days there is a different type ago, there was a news item which said that there were 55
Tof race amongst all the states and kg of plastic bags found in the abdomen of a cow which
the politicians. Everywhere there is died because of eating of plastic. 55 kg of plastic would
only one agenda: ‘Ban the plastic’. The have amounted to about 30,000 bags of such thin bags.
plastic industry is being treated like The posters went up proclaiming “GOHATYA BY PLASTIC”.
eco terrorist. Surprisingly, those who Government has passed the law to ban the plastic bags
do not approve of this ban, start talking Professor D.D.Kale, of thickness less than 50 microns. Chemically there is no
about how plastic is good and eco friendly. At the same difference between 6 micron bag or 50 micron bag or 100
time, those who manipulate or enjoy such bans, try to micron bag. The rag picker will find easy to pick up thicker
equate every plastic material as carcinogenic and much 50 micron bag rather than 6 micron bag. This policy is not
unhealthier. Most of the times, the conclusions drawn from implemented properly for several reasons. There could be
reports published in the literature may be taken out of some problems on the part of implementing authorities.
context. The central Government wants the industry to This never received much attention. But today most sates
implement solid waste management rules 2017.One such want to ban plastic bags, plastic table cloth, plastic films,
example is recent battle against use of lead stabilizers in plastic forks, knives, plates, water bottles and many such
pipes. The amount of lead stabilizers added to PVC pipes items. Have these politicians realized that if plastic film
and fittings could be around 2 to 4 %. The lead in these is banned, milk supply will come to halt.
stabilizers is less than 50 % and hence the amount of lead in
the PVC pipe can be 1%. It must be noted here that lead is If one lists all the items in which plastic is used, one would
not present as free lead metal but is a chemical compound. realize that if you remove all plastic, you may not live
Thus lead is bound chemically with other elements. The in modern style. Computers, mobile, non stick utensils,
lead in water flowing inside the pipe may find some lead rain coats, credit cards, water bottles, TV, ceiling fans,
compound and the lead in this water is found to be less electric cable and the clothes all will vanish.
than few parts per million parts of water as per the Plastics are recyclable and these are being recycled. It
standards lead down by World Health Organization and may be noted here that the foundation of mechanical
approved by the competent authorities in India. Yet one recycling or in simple words reusing the polyethylene
of the NGOs produced the lead analysis from the pipe and material by reprocessing the waste items was laid by
compared it with limits of water flowing inside and coming Indians. In 1970s, the polyethylene was in short supply and
out of the pipe. Not only this, there was allegation that there was a quota system. It was in India that reprocessing
plastic manufacturers are deliberately using substandard of used items began successfully. At times there was
lead and lead compounds to enhance the profits in spite import of waste material from other countries. However,
of well laid down Indian and world standards and the strict it was done for economic reasons and not for ecological
monitoring from the competent Government agencies. reasons. It was not practiced in scientific manner. India

The thin carry bags made from polyethylene commonly was using almost 40 to 45 % of recycled polyethylene.
known as zabla bags are the next item of concern. Unfortunately, this sector was neglected to some extent
Yes, littered plastic bag is an eye soar. These bags are and reprocessed goods prepared in un hygienic manner
occasionally consumed by the grazing animals and fish were being used for direct contact food items on some
and these need not be allowed to litter. Several years occasions and that gave a some set back to this sector.

49 Januar y 2018 Plastics News