OUR newspaper on Sunday reported that piecemeal enforcement and fines are insufficient to address the escalating plastic pollution crisis.
Referring to the experts working in this arena, the report highlighted a coordinated strategy to combat the rampant use of polythene in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has been a major contributor to global plastic waste, ranking 10th among the top 20 nations producing mismanaged plastic waste in 2010.
By December 2021, the situation remained dire, which exacerbated by inadequate waste management practices and a pervasive throwaway culture in urban areas.
A 2020 study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue revealed that Dhaka alone generates 646 tonnes of plastic waste daily, with only 10 per cent being properly managed.
We all are well informed that the widespread use of polythene bags plays a significant role in this environmental dilemma.
Despite previous attempts to ban polythene, experts highlight the ineffectiveness of these measures due to poor enforcement.
A law prohibiting polythene bags was introduced in 2002, but the lack of sustained governmental action allowed their use to rebound.
Environmentalists emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach before implementing any ban.
Quoting the current strategy, they said that the currently imposed ban lacks preparation and viable alternatives.
“Before enforcing the ban, we need a clear plan and large-scale alternatives to polythene,” he said.
To effectively reduce polythene consumption, experts suggest several key measures.
They advocate for tighter regulation of polythene production and closer monitoring of bonded warehouses to prevent the import of raw materials, and stricter market oversight to curb consumer-level usage.
They propose that targeting polythene use in wet markets and shopping malls could potentially reduce consumption by up to 80 per cent.
Moreover, the health implications of polythene pollution, particularly the ingestion of microplastics by aquatic life pose serious risks to human health, including links to cancer.
We would like to say as the government has enforced existing bans on polythene and polypropylene bags in supermarkets from 1 October, it’s not enough to tackle polythene hazard.
We have to put importance on collaboration among all stakeholders to protect future generations from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
