WHAT ARE PLASTICS?

Plastics are synthetic substances produced by chemical reactions. Almost all plastics
are made from petroleum, except a few experimental resins derived from corn and other
organic substances.
"Plastics" derived their name from
their properties to be molded, cast,
extruded or processed into a variety
of forms, including solid objects, films
and filaments. These properties arise
from their molecular structure.
Plastics are polymers, very long chain
molecules that consist of subunits
(monomers) linked together by
chemical bonds. The monomers of
petrochemical plastics are inorganic
materials (such as styrene) and are
not biodegradable.
Plastic has many properties which has made it a raw material of choice for
Manufactures of plastic Bags and packing materials. Cost of production, light weight,
strength, easy process of manufacture, and availability are few of the properties. There
is nothing wrong with plastic as a material. Man has simply not put the plastic to the
right use/ or using it without taking proper care of other related norms of usage.

PLASTIC AS PACKING MATERIAL

Plastic has replaced the traditional material ( paper/cloth etc) as packing and carry bags
because of cost and convenience which is possibly a wrong choice of material for such
use. Even though plastic bags can preserve food and can be used for growing
vegetables in a controlled environment, their method of
disposal has creates unprecedented pollution problem.
Plastic has many more uses other than Plastic Bags
and Packing material. It is used for manufacturing of
protective covers and parts for many machines, which
should be the preferred utility for plastic.

SHOPPING CULTURE IN EARLIER DAYS (

Pre Plastic age 1970 + )
Before the advent of poly-bags, people did shop, buy
things, bring eatables from the market, and did the
same marketing as is done now. How did they did it?

The raw material for the bag was decided by its usage. Cloth bags for lighter items,
Gunny bags/Jute bags for voluminous and heavier goods. The cost did not justify use
and discard attitude. These bags were washable and reusable lasting for six months to
a year.

PLASTIC HAZARDS
The hazards plastics pose are numerous. The land gets
littered by plastic bag garbage presenting an ugly and
unhygienic seen. The "Throw away culture" results in these
bags finding their way in to the city drainage system, the
resulting blockage cases inconvenience, difficult in
maintaining the drainage with increased cost, creates
unhygienic environment resulting in health hazard and
spreading of water borne diseases. This littering also
reduces
rate of
rain
water
percolatin
g, resulting in lowering of already low
water levels in our cities. The soil
fertility deteriorates as the plastic
bags form part of manure remain in
the soil for years.
It has been observed that the animals
eating the bags sometimes die.
Plastic goes into the ocean which is
already a plastic infested body of
water. Fish and other marine species
in the water ways, misunderstanding
plastic garbage as food items swallow them and die.
SHOULD PLASTIC BE TOTALLY BANNED?
Many household utility items like needle, scissors, blades can heart if not handled
properly. Children need to be trained in their proper handling. These utility items are not
banned. But because of throw away culture and no objection from passer by, the advise

on sensible disposal of plastic bags are not heeded by general public forcing the
government to consider banning of plastic bags all together.
"Should plastic carry bags and bottles be banned in totality?" - is a heated issue today.
Average Indian uses one kilogram (kg) of plastics per year, the world annual average is
a alarming 18 kg. But too many do it as our cities have huge population. The country yet
to take a serious view of the issue and have a uniform nation-wide law for indiscreet
disposals of plastic bags. People should be educated on the proper ways of plastic bag
usage and the disposal. The teaching should start right from the primary schools.
"Plastic is an eco-friendly material. The real problem is littering", some claim. But there is hardly
anybody who agrees with such viewpoint.
Thinking rationally, the whole idea of educating people about plastic bags, although very
ambitious, and it is as difficult as banning smoking The conventional older and tested
alternatives offers an easy, if not fully equitable and practical solution.
And all the hype that poly-bags pollute is not totally false. It is not that poly-bags are responsible
for the ills, of course not, it is the humans. It is ignorance ( or who cares attitude). We have not
banned sewing needles they pierce through the skin. It's a stupid idea. Whether it is the
common citizen, the government official or the hard-hit plastic bag manufacturer, all of them
agree on one point - firm steps are required to be taken against littering of plastic bags and
bottles all around.
THE GLOBAL DIMENSION
More than a 100 million tonnes of plastic is produced world-wide each year. Though plastics
have opened the way for a plethora of new inventions and devices it has also ended up clogging
the drains and becoming a health hazard. Many countries, including India, are trying to increase
the amount of plastic that is recycled. But commercial interests create hindrance for effective
legislation to remove plastics from goods where they can threaten public health. Also there is a
clear trend of shipping off the plastic waste of developed countries to under developed and
developing countries. India imported 7,841.8 metric tonnes of plastic waste from the US in the
first half of 1994. India is the fourth highest Asian importer of plastic waste behind Hong Kong,
Philippines, Indonesia.
FUTURE ALTERNATIVE - ECO-FRIENDLY PLASTICS
However newer technology is also being developed in this
regard. This entails the use of DEGRADABLE PLASTICS. The
principal is to incorporate into the plastic some chemical that is
photodegradable/biodegradable or chemically treatable.
By adding starch, biodegradable plastics are generally made. On

burial such plastics are attacked by bacteria feeding on starch, which breaks these down into
tiny particles that disappear harmlessly into the soil. Some common examples of biodegradable
plastics are the use of "non-removable" suture materials in surgery or capsules for drugs, which
dissolve slowly in body fluids.
Chemically degradable plastics can be broken up by spraying them with a solution that causes
them to dissolve. For example such material can be used as a protective wax covering for new
cars, that washes off at the dealer's garage by a specially formulated spray. This spray reacts
with one of the components of the plastic and causes it to dissolve into harmless materials
which can be flushed down the drain.
Photo-degradable plastics contain chemicals that slowly disintegrate when exposed to light. In
France, strips of photo-degradable plastic about 3 ft (1mtr) wide are used to retain heat in the
soil and produce early crops. They last for about 1 to 3 years before rotting into the soil. But
they have to be used in places with consistent amount of sunshine so that they decay at a
predictable rate. In the USA, about one quarter of the plastic yokes that link beer cans in a six
pack are made of plastic called Ecolyte, which is photo-degradable. But to stop them decaying
too early, they must be stored away from direct sunlight, which can be of some inconvenience to
the retailer.
However degradable plastic can have a few other problems. For example, it cannot be recycled
because there is no easy way to measure it's remaining life span. The biggest drawback is the
cost of it's production. Japanese scientists however claim that they will soon be able to produce
much cheaper multipurpose biodegradable plastic. In order to obviate the disposal problems
and to prevent
Environmental pollution caused by routinely used polythene packaging materials, it would be
prudent , for the present, to use eco-friendly paper packaging. The manufacturers of plastic
packaging like soft drink bottles/mineral water bottles etc must come forward and develop
appropriate methods of disposal/own responsibility for disposal.
A ban on plastic bags (below 20 microns) has already been imposed by various states and also
in a few towns and districts in India. It is going to extend this to other parts of the country also.
Plastic bags are so light and strong that they can carry normal weight, cheap and is used in all
types of shops in our daily life. For example: bakeries, medical
shops, grocery stores, hotels, etc. People are so accustomed to
it, that they find it very difficult to part with it. Plastic bags have
made it possible for people to go without bags to market or work
place as these bags are availably for asking and can be thrown
without a second thought.
People who go on picnics, visiting historic places, hill stations
etc., to enjoy their holidays or just for a change carry with them

eatables in containers, plastic bags, mineral water bottles (plastic), plastic plates and plastic
cups and generally leave it in the open air after consuming the contents. One can find this in
tourist centres scattered all over. Road-side vendors also use plastic cups to serve coffee or
tea. The customers throw these cups on foot paths or near drains after consuming the contents.
These plastic materials are so light that they are carried away by the speed of the moving
vehicle, wind etc., scattered all over, making the surroundings look ugly. There are instances
wherein these materials have clogged the underground drains. People are in the habit of
throwing things they don't need wherever they like irrespective of the final result. People should
be specially educated regarding the use of plastic in our daily life, as it is environment
unfriendly. Boys and girls, men and women with bags on their backs and a stick in one hand
walking long distances, picking up plastic waste, paper, bottles etc., from dust bins, road sides,
is a common sight in Bangalore. These rag pickers sell the waste collected, to the collection
centre to earn their livelihood. These materials are recycled. Bangalorians must be grateful to
them, as they dispose off a part of non-degradable waste material, 'plastic', in particular. The
BMP has given on contract basis, the cleaning of roads in residential areas and other parts of
the city.
The waste materials collected are of all types including plastic materials, such as plastic bags,
plastic cups, plastic bottles etc. Instead of carrying these wastes away, they are burnt on the
road side polluting the area with thick smoke which produce toxic gases (because of burning of
plastic material) posing a health hazard. Inhaling of such gases causes lung diseases and even
cancer. They resort to burning of waste material with the main intention of reducing the number
of trips a lorry has to take. Burning of waste material in public is a serious offence and violation
of Corporation bylaws.
This should be properly monitored by the Health Department of the BMP and immediate action
taken on violators. Arrangements must be made to segregate recycling items such as plastic,
paper, glass etc. Leaves and other degradable waste can be converted into manure. While
traveling in trains, we generally find coffee and tea being served in plastic cups (use and throw)
which the traveling public after consuming it throw them away in village fields and field channels
on the way. There is the likelihood of this collecting near the outlet of the channel obstructing
the free flow of water into the fields. Plastic being non-degradable, when buried under the
ground, arrest the percolation of water into the ground. Animals grazing in the field consuming
this plastic waste along with grass cannot be ruled out. Now-a-days, in almost all functions, it
has become a practice to use thin plastic sheets to cover the dining tables to give it a good look
and also so that it is easy to clean the table, as left over can be removed by rolling the sheet at
a stretch. These are thrown near the dust bin.
Besides this, thin plastic cups are also used for drinking water, which also finds a place in the
dust bin. One can find near the dust bin, waiting slum children, crows, stray cows, dogs to share
the leftovers. In this process, they fight amongst themselves and stray cows in majority of cases
have consumed thin plastic sheets along with left over, leading to untold sufferings and also
found dead on many occasions. It is therefore, suggested that a ban be placed on the use of

plastic sheets, plastic cups, along with plastic bags. Plastic industries manufacturing plastic
bags (below 20 microns) thin sheets, thin cups and thin bottles, should be informed about its illeffects on the environment and advised not to manufacture such items.
If the industry is located in a residential area, action should be taken to shift it immediately. The
factory management should take all measures to control the pollution created, within the
stipulated norms by the KSPB and the pollution board should monitor it regularly. The public
should be educated regarding littering dumping and unnecessary burning of wastes. The Health
Department of the BMP, municipalities of cities and towns, Karnataka Pollution Board has a
greater role to play in making Karnataka eco-friendly and a place to live in safely for the future
generation.

THE SOLUTION
The solution lies in finding
1. alternative suitable for making Bags and packing material at competitive rate and
convenience without having any negative aspect.
2. R&d to make plastic more environment friendly.
3. Educate users to the right disposal methods.
4. Reduce the no of users by reducing the population in the long run.
5. Process vegetable. etc to higher density so as to reduce the no of bags required to pack and
carry. 6. Encourage reusable bags from traditional materials by suitable advertisements to make
it fashionable. ( this may be the overwhelming factor in favour of traditional material). ( Ladies
use bags made of snake skin/ rabbit skin/lion skin etc only for fashion and looks )
7. Cost of mfg bags with traditional material can be subsidized by printing advertisement on the
bags.
In recent times due to widespread awareness drive by NGOS and government and to lesser
extent by educational institutions has resulted in increasing the consciousness among few
shopkeepers they have shifted back to the old system of wrapping up goods in paper bags or
newspapers, Some people are slowly getting habituated to going to the market with cloth bags.
Besides a few NGOs, even school students have come forward to take up a promotion
campaign for the use of paper or cloth bags.
It has also been suggested "Rather than spending money on anti-plastic campaign, the
authorities should gear up its machinery for effective waste management and disposal of
plastic".
Unfortunately, many states do not have units to recycle the plastic while the plastic
manufacturers are not prepared to take it up as a social responsibility.

The plastics industry is jumping on the "green" bandwagon with a new line of "environmentally
safe" products. In reality, these products are no friend of the environment.
Each year, as industry produces more and more nonessential products individually and
excessively packaged, we throw away more and more trash. To a large extent, our garbage
problem is a result of a corporate ethic that puts profits before people -- and the environment.
Industry is pushing disposability because it pays. Plastic razors can only be used a few times
before disposal, then more must be bought, making the plastic and razor industries rich and
happy. Appliances designed to become obsolete guarantee you'll have to buy new ones next
year.
Over 84 percent (by weight) of municipal solid waste could be reused, recycled or composted
instead of being buried or burned. An exception is plastic, which comprises about 7 percent by
weight or 20 percent by volume of municipal solid waste. Due to technical and financial
limitations, less than ten percent of plastic is currently "recycled." Furthermore, "plastic
recycling" only defers the plastic disposal problem, since most plastic items can only be
manufactured from virgin plastic. Recycled polystyrene foam (also known by the brand name
Styrofoam) can be used to build marine docks but not to make a new polystyrene foam cup.
New plastic will have to be produced from non-renewable oil stocks to make those cups, and
eventually all the plastic will have to be disposed of.
The Plastic Panacea
In 1989, the U.S. used over twelve billion pounds of plastic for packaging designed to be thrown
away as soon as the package is opened. In the 1990s, this figure doubled. Fortunately, more
and more people are becoming aware of the damage plastic does to the environment. They are
speaking out against it, protesting irresponsible industries and getting laws passed banning
polystyrene and other plastics.
However, the plastic itself, which generally comprises over 90 percent of the material, is not
biodegradable. Although so-called "biodegradable" plastic products typically contain chemicals
that help them fragment, the additives do not render the plastic biodegradable.
The second technique is simply bad science. Manufacturers conclude from poorly designed
tests that the actual plastic in a "degradable" plastic product is converted to fragments that can
be consumed by microorganisms. Having examined data from actual tests of biodegradability,
we only find evidence that plastics are not fully metabolized by microorganisms. Therefore they
are not legitimately entitled to the term "biodegradable" and may leave behind harmful
fragments of plastic and plastic additives.
Plastic Production: Environmental Nightmare
While the plastic industry promotes its new "environmentally friendly" products, they deliberately

ignore the highly toxic nature of plastic production, whether the product is called "degradable,"
"recyclable" or any other "green marketing" catchword.
Among the 47 chemical plants ranked highest in carcinogenic emissions by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), 35 are involved in plastic production. Certain plastics such as
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used for indoor and outdoor plumbing, electrical cables and countless
other products, are potential sources of highly toxic dioxins when burned in municipal
incinerators or in accidental fires. Polystyrene foam products are often made with
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), both of which are ozonedestroying chemicals.
In sum, there is no good evidence that "degradable" plastics actually eliminate the
environmental hazards associated with ordinary plastics. But there is good evidence that the
real purpose of marketing these products is not so much environmental improvement as it is to
cash in on the American public's desire for environmental improvement.
"[Degradable bags] are not the answer to landfill crowding or littering . . . Degradability is just a
marketing tool. We're talking out of both sides of our mouths because we want to sell bags. I
don't think the average consumer even knows what degradability means. Customers don't care
if it even solves the solid-waste problem. It makes them feel good." -- Mobil Chemical Company
spokesperson.
Educated choices by both producers and consumers, followed by efficient recycling, can
drastically reduce worldwide pollution. Right now we are recycling only one percent nationwide,
although some communities do far better than that, recycling 50 percent or more of their solid
waste. Every year, we throw out enough aluminum to quadruple the size of our air fleet, enough
steel to literally rebuild Manhattan and enough wood and paper to heat 5 million homes for 200
years.
With current technology we can recycle newspaper, office paper, cardboard, glass bottles,
aluminum cans, scrap metals, large appliances, automobile tires and motor oil.
Paper bags: expensive but biodegradable