Banning plastic no solution - Waste management and enforcement of existing laws is
Chandigarh, April 10, 2008 - An interactive workshop on the topic "Plastic Waste - Problem and Solutions" for assessing the real problem and the
underlying solutions relating to plastic was conducted by Burning Brain Society and Citizens' Voice. Scientists, Members
of resident welfare associations, social workers and geologists participated in the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Paramjit Singh, professor of Chemical Technology emphasised that plastic and specifically
carry bags were not the real problem but lack of proper management of plastics and improper segregation was the root
cause of all problems related to plastics. Dr. Paramjit also shared scientific information related to different type of
plastics and their indispensability in the modern scientific world. He mentioned that banning carry bags altogether, as
proposed by Chandigarh Administration was not a feasible alternative.
Hemant Goswami, a social activist said the solution of problem did not lie in total banning of all carry bags but rather
in properly enforcing the existing laws. Laws regulating the trade of carry bag to the extent that only virgin plastic
bags with thickness of 30 micron and above and with a minimum size of 8 inch by 12 inch already exist but the government
had failed to enforce the said law.
Talking about the legality of the Chandigarh Administrations notification to ban all plastic carry bags, Hemant said
that this was not only impractical but also illegal. He mentioned that the Administrator had no power to make such
rules, as per the Government of India's notification bearing No. S.O. 667(E) dated the 10th September 1992, the
Administrator has been given powers only for carrying out the provisions of Section 5 of the "Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986" which is regulated by Rule 4 of the "The Environment (Protection) Rules 1986." The Administrator in any case
has no powers, whatsoever, to act under Section 3, 6 or 25 of the "Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Mr. P. C. Sanghi, a retired chief engineer and chairman of "Federation of Sector Welfare Associations" said that the
Administration should not put people and residents to inconvenience for its failure to manage waste. He mentioned that
the most damaging and non-recyclable plastic was the small Gutka/Tobacco and Pan Masala sachets. The government should
regulate that. The garbage pickers have no interest to collect and recycle the small sachets and so it was littered all
over the place. Just by making laws problems can not be solved, there has to be scientific rationale and then
enforcement of laws. Mr. Sanghi added.
Mr. Kuldip Singh, an industrialist based in Mohali mentioned about the scientific facts relating to plastic waste and
showed studies to point out that only 0.4 percent of the total waste was the waste from plastic bags. Most of it he
mentioned comes from the plastic used in milk pouches and/or already banned poor quality carry bags. He mentioned that
plastic has a high reuse and recycle value which no other material has. Adding to his contention Mr. Vikas Mittal of
"Wise Voice of India," an NGO said that banning plastic carry bags was no solution, we have to look at the whole problem
with a holistic approach. He mentioned that if today all plastic packaging was to be replaced by paper or other
bio-media, the whole forests in the world would be finished in nine years.
Mr. Tarsem Mittal of Raam-Raaj, Ms. Gurpreet Kaur, Mr. Gurinder Singh, Mr. J. S. Sarpal of Residents Welfare
Association, Mr. Amit, an environmentalist and Dr. Gaurav also kept their views on the occasion.
ENDS