Speak up Mumbai: Is banning a solution to the perennial plastic menace?

Plastic ban in the state had come into effect from the Marathi new year of Gudi Padwa. The state government had announced the same around six months in advance. Now, as per the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (manufacture, usage, sale, transport, handling and storage) notification, manufacture, usage, sale, transport, distribution, wholesale and retail sale and storage, import of plastic bags with or without handle, and disposable products made out of plastic and thermocol have been banned.

In the last two or three decades, the use of plastic has jumped manifold — it found its way into the kitchen as well as shopping malls. It served as the easiest way to carry everything, from food to clothes. 

However, excess use of plastic and unavailability of proper mechanism to dispose of plastic, it became a threat to the environment. It was observed that plastic affected animals to marine lives. 

DNA talked to experts and residents to know their view on plastic ban.

VOICES

It is a good thing, but it still isn’t enough. The ban on single-use plastic items is a great initiative but already so much plastic is scattered around us. We need to also look at recycling plastic items as another approach towards tackling this issue. The government needs to promote recycling in every possible way. Only this can ensure plastic-free Maharashtra in the true sense. 
—Nidhi Trivedi, Sion resident

I strongly support the issue of banning plastic bags. The lightweight plastic bag causes heavy damage to the environment. Plastic bags do not only pollute our rivers, but are also very harmful to human health, in various ways. The convenience of these plastic bags come at a high cost to the environment and negatively impact human health.
—Santosh Sanjkar, Chembur resident

Banning any substance has never led to resolution of an issue. People will find ways in which they can circumvent the ban. Plus who is going to be held accountable if plastic bags are still available in the market? The government should instead make sure that equally good alternatives for plastic are available at dearth cheap price. Only then will people actually switch from plastic to other alternatives like paper, etc. 
—Ganesh Vaje, Borivali resident
 
We need to work towards saving the environment. However, imposing a ban without much thought, results in chaos. There was a rumour about high fine. The extension given by the government for the ban is a welcome move. The government needs this time to think on how to impose the ban without troubling common Man.
—Sanyog Kolgaonkar, Worli resident
 
The government should first come up with alternatives. What is the alternate for giving sambhar and chutney? You cannot randomly impose a ban, but allow things like half litre bottles because you want to help a minister’s son. Why do you want to help multinationals, but not traders? The government, which has passed this order, has no sense of planning. Such orders have to be clear and transparent. They say one thing is allowed, but not other. People are becoming a victim. Suggestions and objections should have been taken first. They should take a cue from Britishers in planning as it continues to last.
—Kamlakar Shenoy, resident of Mazgaon, who runs an eatery

The government has not tackled the plastic ban well. What is the alternative that they are giving Mumbaikars, if plastic bags are removed from the market. No thought has gone into this There are lakhs of people from this industry who will be losing jobs due to the ban. It will take at least a year for the issue to settle down once it is properly implemented.
—Madhu Kotian, Mulund resident
 
It is a good initiative by the civic body. It will help to reduce majority of plastic waste from the city.  It’s a commendable initiative because no government is actually focusing on environmental issues and thereby the health of animals and humans. I believe such an initiative should have been taken at least a decade ago. Also, looking forward to more such initiatives like tree plantation to name a few. Nonetheless, the government has realised the impact of pollution and they are now taking small, but effective steps to fix the damage that has been caused.
—Gaurav Chettiyar, Jogeshwari resident

Plastic ban is a great initiative.  The state government has taken stringent measures and we as responsible citizens  should comply to make the environment safer, greener and create a sustainable future. But it is equally important to identify a safe and recyclable alternative, which is accepted globally. Measures should be taken to recycle the already in-use plastic.
—Shweta Powar, Andheri resident

EXPERT SPEAK

There is no doubt that plastic ban is a must. But, there is a need to take strict action against those producing and distributing plastic. Since it has good shelf life and once produced could be reused a number of times, there is provision to reuse plastic for a reasonable time. It is not difficult to identify used plastic from the new ones. So such restrictive ban on new plastic is possible. Moreover, raids on manufactures and distributors can send a strong signal. There is no reason to punish the common public if they are using used plastic. 
—Jitendra Gupta, civic expert

This is a welcome decision and every citizen should support it. When there were no plastic bags, we didn’t have any problem. The ban was needed as we were not taking the environment seriously. Plastic has affected marine lives, animals and humans, too. We only think of personal benefits, keeping the environment issue aside. There is no use of plastic in the North East, and there is no hue and cry. Maharashtra is the 18th state to ban plastic. Nothing new is being done here. 
—Subhash Rane, environment activist