The scientific and technological advancement has brought so many good things to human life in the last five decades. It is however also brought us plastic, which is becoming a silent killer.
Single-use plastic or polythene bags have replaced traditional eco-friendly materials including cotton grocery bags, paper bags and recycled bottles.
The unchecked spread of single-use polythene bags has caused great harm to our lives and environment.
Plastic waste has caused land degradation and has been killing marine life around the globe.
Direct contact of food with polythene bags has been impacting the health of millions.
A recent environmental study has made the startling revelation that plastic food wrappers contribute more than 31 per cent of total environmental pollution. Bottles and containers contribute an additional 15 per cent to pollution.
What makes the use of plastic really dangerous is its non-biodegradable nature.
This means that every piece of plastic added to the atmosphere will stay there forever. As far as the impact of plastic on human health is concerned, almost every human being living on this planet today is carrying toxic chemicals in her/his blood tissues. This makes every human prone to fatal diseases including birth defects, impaired immunity and in many instances, cancer.
The world produces almost 380 million tons of plastic annually
When dumped into the soil, plastic particles seep into groundwater and make it harmful for human consumption. It pollutes rivers and lakes. Due to its abundant presence, even in wilds and plains, plastic intrudes into the food chain of animals, posing a significant threat to wildlife. Same is the unfortunate story of marine life. Evidence suggests that it is also taking a toll on the deep-sea creatures, which seem to be suffering immensely.
Today, the world produces almost 380 million tons of plastic annually. Out of this about 8 million tons of plastic is being deliberately dumped into oceans.
Despite efforts at various levels, only about 8 per cent of plastic waste is being recycled. This presents a bleak and gloomy picture, plastic is damaging the quality of life in all parts of the planet. Of course, it is clearly unsustainable and, therefore, cannot be allowed to play with environmental health and destroy the entire ecosystem.
There is a growing awareness of the threat in the global community. More than 60 countries are putting forward some kind of framework to ban and discourage single-use plastics. In Pakistan, we can find several policy guidelines to curb urban pollution and minimize the use of plastic bags, but these are not vivid enough for a clear line of action to deal with this environmental menace.
The Environmental Protection Agency has started responding to the problem in the Islamabad Capital Territory by banning single-use plastic bags through new legislation – a step in the right direction.
However, some pertinent questions about the impact of the project remain unanswered. For instance, how would the stakeholders, ranging from producers/suppliers to buyers and end users, be engaged under the initiative? This is a matter of foremost importance.
How, would the success of this initiative benefit provinces and how could it be replicated in all parts of Pakistan?
With a large number of employees, the plastic industry needs to be engaged in a way that it can shift towards environment-friendly practices.
Traditional approaches of behavioural change would be insufficient to educate the masses.
A detailed mapping of opportunities in the industry for recycling of plastic, cost and availability of substitutes of single-use plastic bags is needed.
It is immensely important after failed experiments with oxy-biodegradable bags, which have proved harmful. It is important that all stakeholders understand their roles and are committed to doing what is required. The end users need to be taken aboard in a way that instead of being motivated by legal compulsions, they voluntarily ask for eco-friendly substitutes. Hence, reaching out to them in an innovative manner would have fundamental importance for the success of the plastic-free Pakistan drive.
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