Dist govts directed to ensure ban on polythene bags

LAHORE

Environment Protection Department (EPD), Punjab has directed all the district governments across the province to ensure implementation of Polythene Bag Ordinance and take strict action against violators.

The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting chaired by EPD provincial secretary Capt (r) Saif Anjum. During the meeting, he issued directions to all District Officers (Environment) to ensure compliance of Polythene Bag Ordinance. The secretary said that despite the convenience the plastic bags offer in our daily life, their impact on human health and environment is significant.

The meeting was told that it was fact that plastic bags released toxin when exposed to heat and sunlight and toxin finds way into hot eatables carried in them, which practice has become a norm in the province. The meeting was told that once soiled up, the polythene bags ended up in trash, small part of which then ended up in landfills while the larger part was subjected to open burning. “Either situation is very poor for the environment as burning can lead to the release of toxic gases and increase in level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs),” said EPD secretary. He said that in the landfill sites, plastic bags decompose slowly over hundreds of years, releasing toxin in the land continuously which ultimately seep into groundwater. In our particular circumstances, plastic bags often find their way into storm water drains and sewer lines, clogging them, which leads to a chain of insanitary conditions and additional costs, he said. Secretary Environment highlighted that in view of the above problems, prohibition on manufacture, sale, use and import of polythene bags (black or any other polythene bags below 15 micron thickness), Ordinance was promulgated in 2002. 

Spokesman for EPD Naseem-ur-Rehman said this Ordinance inter-alia provides that no person shall manufacture, sell, use or import black polythene bags or any polythene bag below 15 micron thickness or offer any eatable and non-eatable goods in any black polythene bag or any polythene bag below 15 micron thickness. He said as per the ordinance, any person who contravenes this provision, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to Rs50,000 or with both. Naseem said that during the meeting, EPD secretary said that however the sale of undesirable plastic bags continued unabated. With a view to arrest this situation, Environment Protection Department has envisaged a systematic four weeks campaign which will be spear-headed by the respective District Officers Environment. “Criminal action will be initiated against delinquents with special focus on manufacturers and wholesale suppliers under the provisions of the aforesaid Ordinance,” he concluded.