Our government must ban the use of single-use plastic items
KARACHI: According to numerous studies, a normal plastic bag takes hundreds of years to decompose, and as long as it is part of the environment, it has a hazardous impact on us. They produce methane and other toxic gases in landfills. Plastic is often also disposed of in the ocean, along with other waste, and the bags tend to get wrapped around marine animals. Many turtles and fish also eat them as they resemble jellyfish. The bags suffocate the animals or choke them to death. Plastic bags have become ubiquitous. They are thrown in the streets, or often escape garbage dumps due to wind.
We have many alternatives to plastic, such as reusable cloth bags, which are affordable, portable and more durable. Some stores even offer small discounts on your bill if you bring your own bags. A supermarket in Thailand has replaced plastic bags by wrapping its goods in banana leaves. The idea is simple and inexpensive. We too can implement it. Our government must ban the use of single-use plastic items. Our plastic usage is very low in comparison to the developed world. We can reduce it further by taking timely action. Environmental pollution is leading to increasing temperatures and climate change. This spells doom for the entire human race.
Ahsan Ul Haq
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2019.
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