Daily Times

Among many challenges the beautiful world is facing, environmental degradation is one of the uphill issues. Issues such as waste disposal,depletion of natural resources, climate change, deforestation, pollution, and global warming  are degrading the existing natural environment of the planet. Human activities are equally responsible for demeaning the environment akin to natural factors that alter the beautification of the planet.

The products made up of plastic that are not renewable resources are hazardous to environment.

As a matter of fact; the way we are ignoring it is just as the pigeon that closes its eyes when a cat comes. If we observe streets, malls, houses, hospitals, apartments, parks, schools, colleges, or any other place one can see tons of garbage and plastic bags everywhere that is why drainage are choked and dirty water spill-over is everywhere and because of that it is petrifying the whole infrastructure including buildings, roads, and streets. Moreover, Filthy water creates germs, bacteria, and mosquitoes, which are dangerous for humans and animals alike.

I was searching and reading different articles and books regarding different kinds of pollution in our beautiful world, I came across one of the articles regarding plastic bag pollution and it was written by Nicole D’Alessandro, published on April 2014(Eco watch), has very interesting facts about plastic pollution but the same time it is scary too. If we will not take timely action to diminish plastic bags and proper disposal through government authorities or privately, we will face very drastic consequences.

“one million bags are used every minute in the world”

According to Nicole D’ Alessandro:

“Annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. More than one million bags are used every minute. Plastic constitutes approximately 90 percent of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile. Approximately one million seabirds and more or less 100,000 marine mammals are killed annually from plastic in our oceans”.

I want to highlight few serious problems that we are facing and will continue to face in future.

It is dangerous for the ecosystem and Plastic contains major toxic pollution. It negatively impacts our wildlife, plants, the human body, and animals.

According to researchers; plastic bags get into the soil and slowly release toxic chemicals. Moreover,Plastic products and plastic bags are creating pollution which is the serious health hazard. Unfortunately administrators, authorities and politicians are not taking the problem seriously in Pakistan.

Pakistan Environment Protection Council (PEPC) was formed in 1984, under section 3 of the Pakistan Environment Protection Ordinance but it has not performed effectively to reduce environmental degradation and for the improvement of environment.

As we know that plastic bottle is made only once that  contains polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When this chemical reacts with the H20 molecule of water , it produces harmful chemical that adversely affects the health of consumer.

We have to create awareness among  citizens of our country that about the lethal and dangerous effects of plastic bags.d.

Many countries have realized that plastic bags damage the whole ecosystem, environment, and health of living beings. They are creating awareness and discouraging to buy plastic bags and encourage to use recyclable bags.

In Canada, most of the part and grocery stores are charging for plastic bags to discourage customers and bring their own recyclable bags. Last time when I was shopping in one of the leading brand stores in Canada, I noticed that they  do not have plastic bags for consumers as consumer has to bring his/her own bag or buy recyclable and reusable bags.

Recently,our neighboring country India has taken a good step regarding us of plastic bags. In Mumbai use of plastic bags has been prohibited , failing to do so , the resident would have to face  penalties  up to 25,000 (Penalties range from 5,000 rupees for first offenders to 25,000 rupees) and three months in jail.

We should take some serious steps to curtail plastic bags in order to save our environment and our beloved country.

• Many of the developed countries  have started  teaching and training from primary classes about the  dangerous effects of plastic bags. we should follow the necessary steps to avoid use of plastic bags.
• Buy nice beautiful bags for grocery and other stuff.
• Enforce to use biodegradable bags. Create an awareness program ”how to avert Plastic bags in our daily life” in our Educational institutes, retail business and the other organizations who are involved directly or indirectly.
• The parents should get involved actively in this noble cause, at least should train their children to avoid the plastic bags. Media can play the very vital role to create an awareness program on large scale.
• The grocery store must charge heavily for the bags, in this way customers will start to bring their own bags.
• Pakistan Environment Protection Council (PEPC) can play the very imperative role to curtail plastic bags and should create awareness programs in educational institutions, organizations, and manufacturers.

We should fight against plastic bags individually and collectively,and the authorities concerned should heed the issue seriously so that the environmental degradation and many other health issues can be curtailed in Pakistan.

SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAG SAY YES TO OWN and RECYCLABLE BAG!