Enforce polythene ban, incentivise alternatives

Experts at a discussion yesterday called for strict enforcement of ban on polythene, and incentivising producers of plastic alternatives.

They also asked the government to make the use of jute bags for everyday shopping popular to decrease use of polythene, while speaking at a roundtable discussion titled "Plastic Pollution: Causes, Effects and Solutions" organised jointly by Association of Academics and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) and Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

Approximately, 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste (about eight percent of all the waste) is generated in Bangladesh every day and it is also a rapidly growing environmental challenge in the country, according to BAS.

Prof Dr AK Azad Chowdhury, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University, said the plastic waste is not only harmful for human but also for sea creatures.

It damages soil fertility, he said, calling upon the government to take a holistic measures to address the problem.

M Shamsher Ali, former president of BAS, suggested creating an "environment police force" to check enforcement of ban on polythene. He also asked the government to include negative impact of polythene and benefit of jute in textbook curriculum to raise awareness among children.

BAS fellow Prof Dr M Feroze Ahmed said plastic can live up to 400 to 1,000 years in soil whereas each year 480 million of tonnes of plastic waste is created.

"The plastic waste is being piled up dangerously in environment," he said, adding that different types of additives are used in plastic which enters the human system and causes serious health risks.

BAS Fellow Prof Dr ZN Tahmida Begum said plastic particles do not let microorganisms to grow; as a result, soil loses fertility as which hinders crops production.

"Bizzare types of diseases are seen nowadays. It is happening because of plastic," she said.

Professor and Chairman of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dhaka University Dr Yearul Kabir suggested giving incentives to manufacturers of alternative bags and containers to promote them. 

He said the human body could grow resistance against plastic particles to a certain limit. "When the body fails to fight, it causes cancer," said Kabir.

Prof Dr Haseena Khan, fellow at BAS, laid emphasis on production of jute as it is a good alternative to plastic bags.

She also stressed on research to increase production of jute.

Experts also urged the government to encourage the public and private jute mills to produce the right quantum of jute yarns so that entrepreneurs could produce jute shopping bags.

They called for regular updating of regulations related to plastic pollution, and underscored the need for reusing and recycling of plastic and creating awareness among businessmen in this regard.

Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, organizing secretary of BAS, moderated the discussion.