Green shopping habits : Biodegradable shopping bags to replace black plastic in K-P

Manufacturers demand the govt provide financial help in procuring requisite chemicals

PESHAWAR:

The drains and pipelines in cities and villages of the provinces are likely to no more ingest plastic and remain clogged. The manufacturers of plastic bags have decided to work on the provincial government’s orders to make biodegradable plastic bags.

“The government says we should stop manufacturing black plastic bags, reduce the thickness of the bags from 40 microns to 30 microns and use biodegradable powder as an additive in the process,” Plastic Bags Manufacturers and Sellers Association President Didar Gul Safi told The Express Tribune. A micron is a unit used to measure the thickness of plastic bags.

The cost of environmental health

“We accept these demands but the government has to help us purchase the chemical powder that would be used in the process as it costs more than plastic grains we usually use.”

Safi added a 25-kilograme pack of plastic bags usually costs Rs5,000. For the same quantity to be manufactured, Rs25,000 worth of the biodegradable powder would be needed. “About 100kg of plastic bags can be made with 25kg of the power.”

Emphasising on the need to maintain the business in some form, the association president shared there were 55 manufacturing units operating in Peshawar and 150 in the province with over 3,000 employees. “The government was first planning to put a complete ban on our business but now they have relaxed the policy to some extent,” he added. Safi was referring to a statement by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak issued in August regarding the ban on sale and manufacturing of black plastic bags in the province. The issue had come to a head in August after the city’s drainage system collapsed in the face of rainwater, forcing the roads to flood.

Action taken

Although the new policy on plastic bags was raised by the government, it is believed Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) provided the impetus.



Soon after the CM’s announcement, the business community held meetings with the chief minister and protested on roads to express their objection against the plastic bag ban. Eventually, the government decided to relax the policy and formed a committee under the supervision of MPA Shaukat Yousufzai along with members from the business community, WSSP and representatives of the district administration and K-P Environmental Protection Agency.

Businessmen involved in the manufacturing of plastic bags blame WSSP. “Plastic bags have not scuppered the sanitation system,” said Safi. “It is WSSP that has not extended or enlarged the drainage lines; its staff doesn’t do its job.”

K-P EPA Director General Dr Muhammad Bashir Khan refused to comment on the issue but said paper bags cannot be an alternative because of their high prices.

Opposing views

WSSP Media and Communication Manager Taimur Ahmed said the ban has already been imposed and only bags already manufactured are allowed to be used. “Alternatives for plastic bags are being considered.”

Ahmed said they are looking towards paper bags and biodegradable bags as alternatives. “Black plastic bags are harmful for the environment and are not acceptable at any cost.” Ahmed added WSSP raised the issue because plastic bags were blocking drainage lines, causing problems for everyone. “The sanitation system is old; in some areas it dates back to the 19th century and was not built for a population of this size.”

Ahmad spoke about the WSSP staff and said the sanitation company was utilising its staff but a change in their attitude will take some time.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st,  2015.