Total ban on plastic not possible: experts

Kozhikode, Sep 15 (UNI) A total ban on plastic products, including carry bags, is not possible as the entire packaging industry is dependent on it, experts today opined.

Talking to newspersons prior to a seminar on ''Plastic and Proper Waste Management,'' Mr K E George, Head of the Polymer Science Department of the Cochin University of Science Technology (CUSAT), said ''we cannot ban plastic products totally,'' as the entire developmental activities the worldover was linked to it.

Citing an example, he said shelf-life of food materials and pharmaceutical products wrapped in plasic covers had resulted in thriving of these industries.

Claiming that use of plastic was not harmful, he said civic bodies should find out proper ways for its disposal.

Noting that use of plastic had created environmental degradation to certain extent, he called for proper waste management, including use of separate dustbin for plastic.

In India, use of plastic per head was 4 kg per annum against the global figure of 18 kg.

Agreeing with the views expressed by Mr George, India Centre for Plastic in the Environment Advisor P V Narayanan said a negative image had been created on the use of plastic due to propaganda campaign unleashed by certain elements.

He said waste management could be undertaken by converting it into many useable products adding that experiments were on in certain parts of the country, including Mumbai and Bangalore to construct roads with waste plastic-added bitumen.

He underlined the need for an awareness campaign among the people on proper waste management in the country.

Claiming that their units produced carry bags by fulfilling the existing norms, Kerala Plastic Manufacturers' Association president P I Mathew said less 20 microbs plastic bags came from outside the state.

Stating that recyled carry bags are unfit for food packaging, he underlined the need for identification of fresh and recycled materials.

UNI PCH APA1757