Is it throw-away time for plastics?

SHYAMALA MANI IYER

It's been taking over our lives so silently over the years that we didn't even know it! We find children carrying snack boxes made of it, we drink mineral water out of it, mom's kitchen shelf is full of bottles made of it. We all know of the IT Revolution. But, few of us have realised that a 'Plastic Revolution' has also been going on in our lives.

Plastics have gradually invaded almost every aspect of our lives - from the toothbrush we use in the morning to the telephone to chat with our friends. Plastic buckets have replaced aluminium ones, plastic chairs have replaced wooden and steel ones, plastic cups and plates have taken over from stainless steel tumblers and plates and ceramic crockery. It's quite unusual today to carry a cloth bag or basket while going shopping. What's the need? Everything is handed over in plastic carry bags. The moral is that plastic is a multi-purpose creation - true to its name. The word plastic comes from the Greek word meaning "able to be moulded".

The first plastic, parkesine, was invented by British chemist Alexander Parkes in 1862, but it was soon superseded by a similar material invented by an American, John Hyatt. This was celluloid and was used to make products like photographic film. Its main disadvantage was that it caught fire easily. The components used were not entirely artificial - they were obtained from materials like cotton. Other early plastics were viscose rayon and cellophane. The first plastic to be made entirely from chemicals was bakelite and was discovered by an American chemist Leo Bakeland in 1908. Nylon, polyethlene and synthetic rubber are other forms of plastic.

Plastics have made life easier for us. They have found a place in almost every component from domestic and industrial products to personal ware. As one expert on plastics said, automobiles would be gas guzzlers without plastics, aeronautics would be grounded without it. Pipes made of different plastics carry everything a man needs: water, gas, electricity, transmission cables, lenses, car lights, cushions for furniture and believe it or not, even false teeth , are made from plastic. It has made domestic life much easier for the much harassed housewife with non-stick pans which are coated with a kind of plastic and unbreakable bottles and mugs so she doesn't have to worry about broken bottles, mugs, cups and saucers.

Environmentalists have found that plastic waste is a pollutant as it is non-biodegradable unlike other wastes. Plastic carry bags, disposable cups, tetra packs and empty bottles clog sewage systems and stormwater drains. Plastics, when burnt, release toxic gases into an already polluted atmosphere.

So, what should be done with this versatile material which is also a pollutant. Plastics have already been banned in some cities of Tamil Nadu. The Chennai council is planning to ban the use of certain kind of plastics from October 1, 2001. But is that a solution to the problem of plastic pollution? As someone said, one does not ban knives because one can kill with them. A total ban will throw thousands of plastic industry workers out of employment. And, as mentioned earlier, plastics are essential for many industrial purposes. The solution perhaps, would be in finding ways to make plastics biodegradable. Research should be carried out to find alternatives to plastic. Meanwhile a public awareness campaign could be launched to teach people to use plastic "throw aways" sparingly. They could be encouraged to bring their own cloth bags for shopping, mud cups could be used to supply tea and coffee at functions and railway stations. As Sheela Rani Chunkath, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, admitted ,there cannot be a total ban on plastics. A partial ban on use-and-throw plastic items and carry bags, which are the real culprits, can be considered.

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