The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and all the state governments on a plea seeking complete ban on use of plastic bags in the country.
A bench headed by Justice G.S. Singhvi also impleaded all the plastic manufacturing companies in the case and also sought the government’s response to put in place a proper mechanism for disposal of used plastic bags.
The apex court passed the order on a PIL filed by NGOs, seeking its direction to government to ban the use of plastic bags alleging that these are not disposed properly and are eaten by animals which get stuck in their stomach.
Observing that most of the lakes and urban drain systems are choking because of plastic bags, the bench said that the issue raised is important to all human beings and agreed to hear the PIL.
The petitioners, a bunch of NGOs working for the welfare of animals, submitted that the governments be directed to implement door to door garbage collection and to ensure that waste storage facilities are built and managed such that animals are not allowed to move around in the vicinity of such facilities.
“Due to government neglect across the country and her maritime boundaries or coastline, animals particularly cows and bulls, are ingesting plastic from garbage dumps and plastic bags littered across the landscape and oceans. The ingestion of plastic from plastic bags chokes the stomach of cows,” the petitioners said.
“Despite the enactment of rules for the disposal of municipal solid wastes and the management and handling of plastic waste, the governments have failed and neglected to implement these rules,” they said.
Keywords: plastic bags ban, pollution, PIL, Supreme Court, waste disposal
Plastics bags are a curse, unless used responsibly. I live in the US,
where there is increased awareness about the use of plastics. Some
municipalities have completely banned the use of plastic grocery bags,
whereas others have mandated a "price per bag" policy for grocery
stores. As such,more people have taken to the use of bags made from
cloth - and the grocery stores themselves sell them.
Unlike India, people feel socially responsible about the environment,
so much that plastics are separated from household wastes for curbside
collection by waste management firms. Where I live - dumping garbage
in an empty space could (and mostly does) attract a fine of up to $
2,000, which is no mean amount.Civic bodies,social activists, & legal experts have to work together to frame policies to deal with plastics. India needs awareness, social responsibility & a clear waste management policies. These come from years of practice, policing & awareness. There are no short cuts in this area.
Plastic is not a promblem but it becomes promblem due to improper disposal. Govt should take steps to dispose it properly. And the usage of plastic bag should be completely banned in hotels for packing food. Because this create much promblems. Beacuse the plastic promblem only after the entry of plastic bag in hotel industry so this should be banned immediately.
While completely bio-degradable plastic bags are made in Thailand and in India, the SC can only try to ban things.
Indeed ban the Plastic bags.But What about Plastic Bottles! Companies have replaced glass bottles with plastic ones and the govt.is simply turning a blind eye to this problem.Glass industries must have suffered as apart from creating unemployment in this sector.A clear case of replacing environment friendly,abundantly available glass with cheap plastic bottles by the particularly by the cola companies all for profits.Others followed suit.
Banning is the one end of legal step towards protecting the enviornment. Encouraging
public to go back to basic needs to be instituted across the country. can we start carrying
Jute / cotton bags for shopping ? In madurai, Traditionally when you buy Jasmine flower
from street flower shop, it was beautifully packed in bannana life and it's string. It helps to
keep flower fresh and Eco-friendly. Nowadays I am very shocked to see them packing it in
plastic bag. Does Bann help to role it back.?
Surprisingly,human beings with all their intelligence,fail to act at the right time in most of the cases which threaten even their very existence.Banning of Plastic bags is a must,but who cares?
The purpose of this notice is to ascertain the views of state governments and the central government. It is obvious that the elected governments will oppose any move to ban plastics as they have done in the past.
IMHO plastic can never be banned, not because it is irreplaceable but because of the powerful lobby that exists in our Country.
Unfortunately, in India profitability prevails over commonsense.
Few years ago,a doctor friend of mine mentioned that'Electral Powder' (ORS) is one of the best inventions of the 20th century. Similarly, plastics also is considered to be one of the best inventions of this modern era. Proper use of these things, for that matter anything is essential for human excellence & survival. In an under developed country like India, it is imperative on the part of govt. to warn / enlighten public so that the survival is not threatened.
This is an excellent idea. The many ways in which plastic bags pollute our environment is unimaginable. A few cities in North America have already banned plastic bags and many other cities are considering the same. Nothing short of a complete ban can save our environment.
please stop manufacturing plastic bags as it is very hazardous to health and safety of the nation.
I have seen lots and lots of plastic bags are being blocked in drainage, thus creating lot of problems to the society.
If not monitored properly there will be a labour shortage to get the drainage cleaned and the general public will be put up in lot of hardship.
Please ban the plastic bags.
They are already banned in Himachal Pradesh. What we need today is alternative packaging. It will be a good step in the right direction.
The Supreme Court, the Government and the people should also realize that plastic bags are only a fraction of the problem. You can ban bags all you want, but what about the small "gutkha" pouches? What about the biscuit, snack wrapping covers? What about the plastic bottles carrying soft drinks? You cannot rid yourself of pollution by merely banning the carry bags. We need to find alternatives for all wrapping covers and bottles and these are almost never under scrutiny. India is littered and choked with plastic; and this has happened only in the past 15 or so years!
Bring out the old cloth bags, lets save the environment together ! Just a basic practical understanding that plastic bags cant get absorbed in soil is all each and everyone needs. If schools and colleges can explain how we can harm the earth, it will be a good beginning. Batteries, energy efficiency, saving water, learning to cook from scratch....lets do it !
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