Jute, an eco-friendly alternative of Polythene, grows in plenty in Bangladesh. Popularizing jute could have been beneficial for Bangladesh in many aspects. However, legal ban on polythene has not seen notable success in over 20 years.
Bangladesh became the first nation in the world to ban plastic and polythene bags in 2002. Despite a blanket ban on the use of polythene, its usage has tripled over the past 15 years. According to the World Bank. In 2005, the average consumption of plastic in urban areas was 3.30 kilograms, which stood at 9 kilograms in 2020.
The use of polythene in 2019-20 was 592,223 metric tons, with 78,000 tons of poly waste during COVID-19. A World Bank study revealed that Dhaka alone generated around 646 tons of plastic waste, which represents around 10% of Bangladesh’s total plastic waste in 2020. Thus, it’s evident that the ban on polythene has been unsuccessful in the country. This article examines the factors or causes behind the failure of the polythene ban in the unique socio-economic context of Bangladesh.
Polythene Usage vs Waste
During COVID-19
No Data Found
Adverse Impacts of Polythene
Polythene and plastic bags have become an integral part of our day to day lives due to their widespread use in our households and industries. Due to its durability, light weight, and low cost, polythene has become ubiquitous, whether in supermarkets, street stores, or high-end shopping malls. Consumers simply throw polythene bags away after a single use. These bags eventually enter the drains, sewage pipelines, canals, rivers, and open areas, contaminating the soil and water, and negatively affecting human health. As polythene is non-biodegradable, it remains in the environment for thousands of years if not correctly recycled. Following are non-exhaustively FOUR harmful ways polythene affects human and animal health as well as the nature.
Blocks the movement of nutrient particles
Polythene blocks the movement of nutrient particles in the soil and kills beneficial microorganisms like bacteria, which consequently reduces the fertility of agricultural lands. According to a study by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), contact with polythene destroys beneficial soil bacteria and decreases rice and wheat production.
Emits toxic gas when burnt
When polythene bags are burned after use, they emit toxic gases such as dioxins, furans, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (BCPs) into the atmosphere. As soon as a person breathes in this intoxicated air, they develop hormone-related malignancies or cancers, infertility issues, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Produces bacteria
Most frozen foods, such as fish, meat, are stored in polythene bags. Over time, anaerobic bacteria are produced, which is the primary cause of skin cancer and skin maladies in humans.
Microplastic in food intake
Wildlife, marine life, and the atmosphere are the major victims of plastic. Fish and turtles frequently consume plastics deposited in the ocean. Particles of plastic are frequently discovered in the muscles and stomachs of seabirds and migratory birds.
The Law in Question
Plastic products, particularly polythene bags, were first widely introduced in the Bangladeshi market in the early 1980s. Due to their light weight, cheaper price, and ease of disposal, polythene bags became part and parcel of our day to day lives. The adverse impacts of polythene bags became conspicuous after the 1998 flood. Massive water-logging was caused by the polythene bags, as the sewerage lines were clogged with heaps of these bags.
Upon acknowledging the harmful impacts of polythene, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) amended the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995, to put an end to the rapid use of polythene. Section 6(A) outlined an absolute ban on polythene bags virtually everywhere, including in manufacturing, stock, sale, marketing, and commercial purposes. If someone disobeys the law, they will face a fine of 50 thousand to 10 lakh and imprisonment of 1-10 years.
1980s
Polythenes was widely introduced
1995
Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 was enacted
1998
Adverse impacts of polythene became apparent due to the flood
2002
Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 was amended to include provisions for polythene ban
2018
Draft regulation was put in place on using plastic
2020
High Court issued an order banning single-use plastic in coastal areas and all hotels and motels.
In 2018, a draft regulation was put in place on using plastic for packaging purposes in food, beverage, and agro-input industries. Furthermore, in 2020, the High Court of Bangladesh issued an order banning single-use plastic in coastal areas and in all hotels and motels across Bangladesh. Additionally, the 8th Five Year Plan emphasized on sustainably managing plastic waste.
Why has polythene ban failed?
Lax Law Enforcement
Successive governments in Bangladesh have failed to enforce the polythene ban, which is evident from the omnipresent use of polythene in virtually every sphere of our lives. Field-level bureaucrats, including law enforcement agencies, often look the other way or don’t even consider the polythene ban an important law to implement. Sometimes law enforcement personnel take bribes to set people free who are found in violation of the ban.
Additionally, the polythene manufacturing industry employs a huge workforce who will lose their jobs if the government heavily cracks down on these factories. At the same time, the polythene seller businesses and buyer business groups significantly contribute to our economy through revenues, which makes it difficult to enforce the ban.
A lack of coordination among the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Commerce exacerbates the problem. The ministries and pertinent agencies under successive governments have failed to proactively monitor and enforce the ban on polythene. Most anti-polythene drives are conducted in factories, not in shopping malls or shops where polythene bags are widely used. The withdrawal of 5% duty on polythene bags in budget 2022-23 has also contributed to the problem.
Whereas in 1999, Bangladesh had only 300 polybag factories, the number now stands between 700 and 1,000 by 2021, spanning rural areas. During the pandemic, over 78,000 tons of polybag waste were produced by illegal polythene manufacturers. A study has revealed that around 1.2 million tons of plastic waste were shipped to Bangladesh from 2018-20, originating from the US and UK – overlooking the blanket ban on importing any type of waste in Bangladesh.
Absence of Cheaper Alternatives
The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has introduced jute bags, which are widely known as ‘Sonali bags or ‘golden bags.’ These jute bags are environmentally friendly. However, these eco-friendly bags are still relatively expensive in comparison with the polythene bags. Most people don’t want to spend too much on the bags that they use to shop. Hence, they find cheaper alternatives like polythene. Moreover, a vast majority of individuals do not prefer to carry their shopping bags to grocery stores or markets. So, they go for the polythene bags, which are already readily available in the market. Thus, a lack of cost-effective, cheaper alternatives has made the situation worse.
Lack of Awareness
Many people in Bangladesh are not fully informed about the adverse impacts of polythene bags on the environment and human health. Even if they are aware, they look the other way – choosing their convenience over their own health. As the harmful impacts of the polythene bags are not directly visible, it’s difficult for the general populace to be self-motivated in not using polythene altogether. A lack of public awareness programs has also contributed to the ill-informedness.
Many people in Bangladesh are not aware of the harmful effects of polythene bags on the environment. As a result, they continue to use them without realizing the damage they are causing.
Going Forward
Mass Awareness Campaign
Mass awareness campaigns should be organized to increase cognizance not only about the harmful effects of polythene but also benefits of using eco-friendly jute bags. The media can play a pivotal role in making people aware of the punishment of the act as well as about the eco-friendly bags. Even after GoB promoted the jute bags, still these bags were not able to capture much attention. Jute fiber shopping bags should be established as the norm for regular use. Natural fiber shopping bags have the potential to boost the number of small and Medium enterprises (SME) in the country - contributing to the economy.
Cost-effectiveness of Sonali Bag
The sonali bags promoted by GoB should be made cost-effective and easily accessible to the consumers so that they switch from polythene bags to jute bags. A lower cost of golden bags will encourage people to use these eco-friendly bags more.
Effective Action
The government agencies, particularly field-level administration, have to be proactive in cracking down on the use of polythene in any place. Investigations should be undertaken by the pertinent authorities to hold corrupt government officials accountable so that they put more emphasis on enforcing the law.
Cover photo: The Business Standard.
About the Author
A R Tahseen Jahan is the Co-Founder and Head of Policy at The Confluence. An undergrad student of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka, she worked on topics of economic development and public policy analysis.
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[…] government of Bangladesh imposed restrictions on the use of polythene in 2002, as the first country to do so in the world. In the absence of jute products, the law was […]