Banning polybags: Is there a better option ?
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Fahima Siddiqui
THE government slapped a ban on its use in the country with effect from 1 January, 2002 with a view to protecting the environment. There are hardly any sign of its enforcement. A shopkeeper, being asked, will tell you that he knows about the ban but he has enough of the bags to serve the buyers for long and has no intention to stop using them as he had to buy.
It is impractical to expect people, habituated to their convenience, to automatically and suddenly stop using polybags. An easy habit is not automatically given up. A change in habits calls for hard persuasion and coercion. Without this needed arm-twisting, we are continuing to see its use. Selling, as usual, through the distribution channels, its production has gone underground. The authorities say it is hard to find the clandestine production facilities or to stop the use of polybags by millions of buyers and sellers. They even say that bags being smuggled into the country, their use is unstoppable because of their popularity.
But they do not accept, in the first place, the mistake the government made by slapping the ban so abruptly. It should have considered all sides to it before taking the decision. Even the western countries, so much concerned about the environment, allow the use of biodegradable polybags that perish and, thus, meet environmental standards. They have not gone for its sudden banning considering its popularity as cheap and convenient bags for carrying goods bought.
Could Bangladesh not opt for a similar policy to allow the carry-bags, keeping the producers under pressure to make the environment-friendly versions? It would kill the snake without breaking the stick. The ban imposed haste in Bangladesh, smacks of poor formulation of policy that was destined to fail.
THE government slapped a ban on its use in the country with effect from 1 January, 2002 with a view to protecting the environment. There are hardly any sign of its enforcement. A shopkeeper, being asked, will tell you that he knows about the ban but he has enough of the bags to serve the buyers for long and has no intention to stop using them as he had to buy.
It is impractical to expect people, habituated to their convenience, to automatically and suddenly stop using polybags. An easy habit is not automatically given up. A change in habits calls for hard persuasion and coercion. Without this needed arm-twisting, we are continuing to see its use. Selling, as usual, through the distribution channels, its production has gone underground. The authorities say it is hard to find the clandestine production facilities or to stop the use of polybags by millions of buyers and sellers. They even say that bags being smuggled into the country, their use is unstoppable because of their popularity.
But they do not accept, in the first place, the mistake the government made by slapping the ban so abruptly. It should have considered all sides to it before taking the decision. Even the western countries, so much concerned about the environment, allow the use of biodegradable polybags that perish and, thus, meet environmental standards. They have not gone for its sudden banning considering its popularity as cheap and convenient bags for carrying goods bought.
Could Bangladesh not opt for a similar policy to allow the carry-bags, keeping the producers under pressure to make the environment-friendly versions? It would kill the snake without breaking the stick. The ban imposed haste in Bangladesh, smacks of poor formulation of policy that was destined to fail.