For all the talk of plastic having been banned in Karnataka, not only have polythene bags made a quiet comeback all over the city, but are also now available with e-tailers.
Popular e-commerce sites offer several options for polythene bags, especially those meant for garbage disposal. They are placed in a separate category called ‘garbage bags’. For example, a pack of 30 big black bags are available for ₹95 and 180 small bags for ₹260.
What do the rules say?
The 2016 directions say that “no person, including shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader, hawker or salesmen shall use plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic buntings ... irrespective of thickness. Further, no industry person shall manufacture, supply, store, transport, sale and/or distribute plastic carry bags ...”
There are exceptions, but ‘garbage bags’ are not among them.
However, e-commerce platforms say they are not doing anything wrong. An Amazon India spokesperson said, “The Karnataka government has banned plastic carry bags, but not garbage bags. Sellers on amazon.in marketplace are not selling plastic carry bags.”
‘No exception’
But Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner (Solid Waste), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, who also heads a committee to look into any clarifications on the ban, said the sale of polythene bags is “absolutely banned” and that the BBMP would go after people violating the rules.
“People have been suggesting alternatives to plastic. For example, someone came with biodegradable bags made out of tapioca. We are looking into these, but as of now, there is no exception,” Mr. Khan said.
To the defence being offered by e-commerce platforms, he said, “Drugs are banned everywhere; are they allowed online? Similarly, plastic carry bags are banned, irrespective of where they are being sold.”
Similar story in stores
It is not only online that plastic bags are being sold unabated. Many stores and roadside vendors are readily offering plastic carry bags — thin and thick ones. In fact, complaints of plastic carry bags making a comeback in various parts of the State started within a few months into the ban.
Though many supermarkets are still adhering to the ban, the availability of ‘biodegradable’ bags has become common.
Solid waste management expert N.S. Ramakanth blamed it on the laxity of enforcement agencies. “The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is not closing the centres where plastic bags are manufactured, and BBMP officials are not as serious as they were when the ban came into force,” he said.
However, BBMP officials ruled out any slack in curbing the use of plastic, and said raids and seizures were taking place every day. “We will now also have specific officers to implement the ban,” said Mr. Khan.
