There are three key arguments made in favour of the recent proposal to ban beer bottles in Goa . One, most bottlers do not collect empty bottles . Two, shards of glass injure people at beaches; and three, the staff at waste facilities injure themselves. It is important to debunk these arguments if Goa is to truly become garbage free by 2020.
The fact that most bottle-makers do not collect empty bottles is being used as a reason to ban glass bottles. This indicates the government’s unwillingness to force bottlers to do the right thing. If one company has a collection facility — and it does — it begs the question of why others can’t have the same. Are companies, in an effort to reduce costs, shirking their social responsibilities? The government can induce companies to initiate bottle collection schemes and ask companies to include all types of outlets, and consumers, in such schemes. A refundable deposit should be levied on the outlets and on the customers to encourage return of bottles. The deposit charged on the outlets should be the same as that they charge on customers.
Providing better infrastructure
Second, if shards of glass are injuring people on the beach, this is a symptom of lack of civic sense and the absence of an effective waste management system. One way to prevent such injuries is to prevent drinking in the open, but that may be considered too restrictive in a tourism-driven economy such as Goa. Instead, there is need to bring behavioural change and provide better infrastructure to collect waste. A proper policing system should be put in place to deter, sensitise and punish people who litter.
Third, there are two major reasons for avoidable but hazardous injuries of staff at waste facilities. The first is that waste is not segregated at source. Unsegregated waste not only hides sharp material but can also be a source of pathogens. On the other hand, waste segregation enhances the potential of the waste material to be reused and recycled.
The second reason for injury is inadequate protective equipment for personnel. Waste handlers usually do not use gloves and if they are given gloves, these are usually the rubber ones that easily get torn. However, there are special gloves for handling waste which are not just stronger but also provide better grip. Workers in waste collection facilities need to be provided such gloves.
The question that Goans must ask themselves is whether they are waging a war against waste or battling a mindset. The former seeks easy but unsustainable alternatives that will eventually magnify current problems. The latter seeks a collective solution which could ultimately clear the path to a garbage-free Goa by 2020.
The writer is the author of 1400 Bananas, 76 Towns & 1 Million People
