Anti Plastic

ANTI-PLASTIC CAMPAIGN Campaign Background Info Plastic bags are everywhere! Everyday, we are handed countless plastic bags: when we go to the grocery store, retail clothing store, book store, restaurants, etc. Yes, sometimes, plastic bags are convenient, as they are water resistant and light and inexpensive compared to paper bags. Most of the time, plastic bags are superfluous and avoidable. It seems as though store clerks are often eager to hand out plastic bags for any and all kind of purchases. Sometimes, a plastic bag is just not necessary for that apple you are about to eat or that soda you are going to drink right away. Here are some questions we should ask ourselves whenever we are handed a plastic bag:  Do I need to take as many plastic bags in supermarkets?  Do I need a plastic bag for an item purchased that is already well packaged by the manufacturer?  Could I bring my own shopping bag when making purchases? Plastic bags are the cause of major environmental concerns. Statistics show that we are consuming more and more plastics every year. It is estimated that an average individual uses around 130 plastic bags per year. Most of them go straight to our landfill and a very small percentage of plastic bags are actually recycled. A reduction in our use of plastic bags is essential in solving the environmental problems stemming from them. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PLASTIC Effect on Environment Land Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources and also the ecosystem. [3]This can cause serious harm to the species that drink this water. Landfill areas are constantly piled high with many different types of plastics. In these landfills, there are many microorganisms which speed up the biodegradation of plastics. Regarding biodegradable plastics, as they are broken down, methane is released, which is a very powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.[4] Ocean Nurdles are plastic pellets (a type of microplastic) that are shipped in this form, often in cargo ships, to be used for the creation of plastic products.[5] A significant amount of nurdles are spilled into oceans, and it has been estimated that globally, around 10% of beach litter is nurdles.[5] Plastics in oceans typically degrade within a year, but not entirely, and in the process toxic chemicals such as bisphenol A and polystyrene can leach into waters from some plastics. [6] Polystyrene pieces and nurdles are the most common types of plastic pollution in oceans, and combined with plastic bags and food containers make up the majority of oceanic debris.

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In 2012, it was estimated that there was approximately 165 million tons of plastic pollution in the world's oceans.[6] Effects on animals Plastic pollution has the potential to poison animals, which can then adversely affect human food supplies.[8][9] Plastic pollution has been described as being highly detrimental to large marine mammals, described in the book Introduction to Marine Biology as posing the "single greatest threat" to them.[10] Some marine species, such as sea turtles, have been found to contain large proportions of plastics in their stomach.[8] When this occurs, the animal typically starves, because the plastic blocks the animal's digestive tract.[8]Marine mammals sometimes become entangled in plastic products such as nets, which can harm or kill them.[8] Effects on humans Plastics contain many different types of chemicals, depending on the type of plastic. The addition of chemicals is the main reason why these plastics have become so multipurpose, however this has problems associated with it. Some of the chemicals used in plastic production have the potential to be absorbed by human beings through skin absorption.[15]A lot is unknown on how severely humans are physically affected by these chemicals. Some of the chemicals used in plastic production can cause dermatitis upon contact with human skin.[15] In many plastics, these toxic chemicals are only used in trace amounts, but significant testing is often required to ensure that the toxic elements are contained within the plastic by inert material or polymer.[15] It can also affect humans in which it may create an eyesore that interferes with enjoyment of the natural environment.[16] Why you should limit your consumption of plastic bags: 1. Plastic bags and packaging account for a major part of our waste in landfills. More importantly, plastic bags are one of the top items of litter on our community beaches, roads, sidewalks, and vegetation along with cigarette butts and Styrofoam. Plastic bags are light and hard to contain. Plastic bags fly easily in wind, float along readily in the currents of rivers and oceans, get tangled up in trees, fences, poles, and so forth, and block the drainage. 2. Plastic bags are made from a non-renewable natural resource: petroleum. Consequently, the manufacturing of plastic bags contributes to the diminishing availability of our natural resources and the damage to the environment from the extraction of petroleum. At the same time, plastics are hazardous to produce; the pollution from plastic production is harmful to the environment. Finally, most plastic bags are made of polyethylene - more commonly known as polythene - they are hazardous to manufacture and are said to take up to 1,000 years to decompose on land and 450 years in water. 3. Countless plastic bags end up in our ocean and cause harm to our marine wildlife. Many marine animals and birds mistakenly ingest plastic or become entangled and choke in plastic bags that is floating around. For instance, environmentalists have pointed out that turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and invariably swallow them. It is estimated 100,000 marine mammals die each year because of plastic litter in our ocean in the NorthPacific.

4. There is virtually no market for recycling plastic bags. Very few recycling centers accept plastic bags because they are of little recyclable value. Although your local supermarkets collect used plastic bags for recycle, very few are actually recycled.

State of Anti-Plastic Campaigns Three cheers to the recent goodwill initiative taken up Anti-plastic campaigners' group, "Blue and Green". Back-up and support from various sections of society, organization, NGOs shows the awareness of the health hazardous and dreadful consequences of using plastic. As we all know that regular and prolonged dependence on plastic by the common people pushed the plastic items one of the most polluting agent destabilizing the ecological balance of nature as confirmed in the reports of various scientific research papers. As a campaign towards 'Earth Go Green', in the long term prospect initiatives and effective laws needs to be implemented towards anti-plastic policy by consulting, comments and views from various expertise including environmental scientists. Success stories of the initiatives taken up by local Govt. of Delhi, Shimla, Manali and Chandigarh in the northern India, in checking use of plastic bags and zero tolerance to garbage are worth enough to respect the Mother Earth. In Shimla, Manali and specially at Mall Roads, and in Chandigarh, use of plastic bags is completely banned, and if in any case, use of plastic items, is a punishable offence with hefty fine. No doubt that garbage/waste disposal facilities are made readily available to the public in a well hygienic manner. In fact, cleanliness drive as well ability to make the people aware in these example cities respecting and preserving the eco system are worth deserving to emulate so as to free the our city from plastic bags, used plastic bottle container of drinking water, beverages, garbage, etc. The Purpose of this campaign is to:  Educate public about the adverse effects of plastic on the environment- made from petroleum, creates pollution, depletes natural resources, fatal consumption by animals, high costs in the long run to clean up litter, non-biodegradable  Provide ways for public to make a difference- reduce, reuse, recycle! Activism!  Inform public with most updated information about the anti-plastic issues  Communicate with the public one-on-one to promote grass root organization  Short term goal is to reduce, reuse, and recycle but in the long run hope to achieve a zero waste policy.

The Law There is no Central Law towards use of plastic in India however different States and Local Bodies in different parts of India have enacted their own laws. To make the anti-plastic bag law more stringent, Delhi Government has introduced The Delhi Degradable Plastic Bag (Manufacture, Sale and Usage) and Garbage (Control) Act, 2000..

The Act with latest amendments envisages imprisonment of up to five years and/or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh against the violators. Since the notification of the Act, the government has filed only 164 challans against violators, mainly mall-owners and shopkeepers while three cases have reached their logical end in the court. However as there is no uniform law to tackle the problem it is required that a Central Law for effective implementation by the government for correct use of plastic by the common people needs to address the following issues: (i) Use of plastic for packaging of household grocery items in wholesale as well as retail shops, Mall, shopping complex, show room, in public places, various markets, etc should be banned completely at one go. Strict rule/law declaring use of plastic is punishable offence should be implemented immediately. Hefty amount of fine against use of plastic in public places should be imposed effectively. (ii) In the long term prospect Effective law to stop manufacturing plastic items specially polythene bags at first hand by the small scale Plastic industries. Besides, in order not to affect such small scale industries, these industries may be given some buffer time to switch over to other durable essential plastic items like water tank, wire cables, vantilators, electrical fitting items, roofing materials, foot duster, pen, comb, button, zip, etc. (iii) Motivate the general public to substitute plastic bags by used papers, newspaper, recycled paper bags, cheap and durable shopping bags from bio-degradable organic products of various plants and trees like jute, leaves, fibres, etc need to be encouraged through various media and voluntary public campaign. (iv) Public awareness campaign through various media both electronic and the fourth estate not to use plastic bags on daily doze basis is very essential. Toxic character of Plastic items being nondegradable polymer compounds needs to be highlighted through media as it block the chain of natural balancing mechanism of eco-system. WAYS OF REDUCING PLASTIC POLLUTION THE 3R'S STILL RULE Consumer product companies are always selling us a new bill of goods. The latest is that we can shop our way to a healthier planet. Over the years, they've also told us that cool cars would make us free and diet soda would make us popular. But there are some things money -- and advertising -- can't buy, and a clean environment is one of them. The hard fact is that global warming, deforestation and other earthly ills cannot be solved by switching brands. It takes resources to manufacture and transport all products, even those made from recycled content. At the very least, energy is spent. And spending resources leaves the world poorer, not better off. So do what you will if you are itching for something new -- there are no environmental police here -- but don't kid yourself. Buying nothing is better for the earth than buying green.

There are exceptions, of course. If your current car or appliance is a terrible energywaster, you may save resources in the long term by replacing it with an energy-efficient model. And it's better for your own health and your family's to replace products that could leach toxins, such as PVC baby toys. More often, though, it is greener to follow the old dictum: reduce, reuse, recycle. I know you've heard it a thousand times before, but with the "green" word now co-opted in the service of sales, the three R's are a phrase -- and a principle -- worth reviving. Reduce. "Reduce" means using fewer resources in the first place. This is the most effective of the three R's and the place to begin. It is also, I think, the hardest because it requires letting go of some very American notions, including: the bigger the better, new trumps old and convenience is next to godliness. With electronics, extravagance may pay. A super-charged computer will still run the software that comes out two years from now, and a large monitor will accommodate the ever wider webpages that companies will be building then. Similarly, a cell phone with a full text keypad (or the iPhone) will see you through the text-messaging era that is upon us. When you make a purchase, find out how to keep the item in shape. Then, maintain it accordingly and repair it when necessary. In addition, try these ways of reducing your use (and abuse) of resources: 

Buy products made from post-consumer recycled materials, especially paper and bathroom tissue.  Choose electronics and appliances that are energy-efficient. Ditto for cars, which you can also share.  Buy stuff made close to home. Less energy was used transporting them to the store. 

Buy used. craigslist and eBay make it easy.

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Avoid goods made with materials whose extraction or processing are especially destructive, such as tropical woods and most gold jewelry.  Avoid overly packaged goods. The packaging is a total throw-away. 

Avoid things made with toxic materials, such as most household cleansers.

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Cut back on water use at home.

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Waste less energy on lights and equipment.

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Eat less meat. Reuse. Before you recycle or dispose of anything, consider whether it has life left in it. A jam jar can store leftovers. Food scraps can become compost. An old shirt can become a pajama top. An opened envelope can become a shopping list. A magazine can be shared. DVDs can be traded. A dishwasher can be repaired. A computer can be upgraded. A car can be resold. A cell phone can be donated. Returnable bottles can be, well... returned. Reusing keeps new resources from being used for a while longer, and old resources from entering the waste stream. It's as important as it is unglamorous. Think about how you can

do it more. Recycle. Recycling is the "R" that has caught on the best. Partly, this is because there are so many curbside recycling programs today (8,660 as of 2006, according to the EPA), which makes recycling so darned easy. What keeps it from being a total piece of cake is the rules. Every municipality has its own, and they are not always as straightforward as they could be. For example, towns are usually particular about the plastics they accept for recycling. Most only take packaging made from #1 (PET or PETE) and #2 (HDPE) resins. You need to look at the bottom of the package for the chasing arrow symbol and check that the number is right. Some towns are even more restrictive. New York City, for instance, accepts #2 containers with necks, but not wide mouths because the two are formed differently and have different melting points. The wrong kind of plastic can "contaminate" the whole batch, rendering it garbage as far as the company with the recycling contract is concerned. So though it's a pain, try to learn what the recycling rules are in your own community and follow them whether they make obvious sense or not. It's the easiest way to do your part. As to shopping for green products, by all means do -- when you really need the thing you're shopping for. ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC BAGS 

PCL polyester : The next three entries on this list are all biodegradable plasticscalled aliphatic polyesters. Overall, they aren't as versatile as aromatic polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is commonly used to make water bottles. But since aromatic polyesters are completely resistant to microbial breakdown, a lot of time and effort is being pumped into finding viable alternatives in aliphatic polyesters.Take polycaprolactone (PCL), a synthetic aliphatic polyester that isn't made from renewable resources but does completely degrade after six weeks of composting. It's easily processed but hasn't been used in significant quantities because of manufacturing costs. However, blending PCL with cornstarch reduces cost.Biomedical devices and sutures are already made of the slow-degrading polymer, and tissue-engineering researchers dig it, too. It also has applications for food-contact products, such as trays.

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Reusable Shopping Bags : When plastic bags first hit the scene, we had a choice: paper or plastic. Today, finding a grocery store that offers an alternative to the plastic bag is like finding a hamburger in a vegetarian's fridge. And if you're not that hypervigilant person at the checkout, you'll find yourself walking home with a bag for each item.In fact, in countries like the United States, it's tough to make a purchase without it promptly being thrown into plastic. No wonder plastic bags seem omnipresent. About 1 billion of them pass through the U.S. every year, less than 1 percent of which are recycled [source: Clean Air Council]. What doesn't end up as 300,000 tons (272,155 metric tons) of U.S. landfill waste litters cities and towns-- and too many end up in the ocean [source: Clean Air Council]. They kill millions of sea turtles, birds and ocean mammals each year [source: Environment California]. But you have to lug those groceries home somehow. So what do you do? Reusable grocery bags, for starters.\

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Liquid wood : Next up is a promising new bioplastic, or biopolymer, calledliquid wood. Biopolymers fake it; these materials look, feel and act just like plastic but, unlike petroleum-based plastic, they're biodegradable. This particular biopolymer comes from pulp-based lignin, a renewable resource.Manufacturers mix lignin, a byproduct of paper mills, with water, and then expose the mixture to serious heat and pressure to create a moldable composite material that's strong and nontoxic. German researchers have incorporated this plastic substitute into

a variety of items including toys, golf

Let us be Responsible "Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi. Most of us have developed a unique habit of blaming our governments for everything that goes wrong in the environment. Why do we have to wait for governments to make laws and compel us to do the right things as citizens? We will wait for environment laws to be framed and only then we will quit the habit of saying NO to plastic bags in grocery stores! Quite ridiculous. As I have observed, our habit of shifting the responsibility to the government has made matters worse. Even if a few NGOs, environmental organizations and even the government try to work in tandem, we as citizens can be lazy or careless in assuming our true responsibility. Instead of waiting for the government to order us to conserve nature, each of us can make a huge difference, by just doing our bit for nature. You don't need a leader or a billion dollar environmental protection project to benefit nature. Just your little efforts are worth the results.

CONCLUSION The most effective way of reducing the amount of plastic litter in the environment is to reduce our consumption. As consumers, we should not wait for our governments to tackle the problem of plastic bags. Change ultimately comes from everyone be it from to law restrictions of our government or from our own volition. Moreover, the most important contribution to such a campaign must come from the consumer.