Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
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Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Epaper

Polythene: Threat to environmental protection

Published : Sunday, 6 June, 2021 at 12:00 AM  Count : 867
Md Zillur Rahaman
There is no end to the global concern for environmental protection, just as there is no end to publicity and research. Polythene is currently one of the most widely blamed elements for global environmental pollution. It is an extreme threat and a huge challenge to protect the environment and biodiversity. For this reason, almost two decades ago, the government of our country banned the production, marketing and use of polythene.

Although the use of jute and paper bags has been noticed for some time, but the use of polythene has become widespread again due to lack of publicity and public awareness. The situation is such alarming that it is impossible and unimaginable returning home from market without colourful polythene bags.

Basically, more than 1 million polythene bags are being used every minute in the world and about 5 lakh crore per year. Only 1 per cent of it is processed for recycling and 10 per cent is dumped at sea. These polybags do not decompose in hundred years and do not mix with the soil, which has serious negative impacts on biodiversity and aquatic animals besides human beings. Polythene is made of a material which is not at all suitable for environmental protection.

Therefore, to protect the environment, the use of harmful polythene bags should be stopped. Because these are continuously polluting water and soil. Consequently, this element is entering the human body in various ways and causing serious health problem. As an alternative, the use of jute polybags should be increased. Emitted toxins called polyphenols mix with food which does not mix with soil, but rather loses soil fertility. It thrown in the dustbin falls into the drain with rain water and the result is waterlogging.

It accumulates at the bottom of the river and fills the river bed and burning polythene causes air pollution. Commercial production of polythene started in Bangladesh in 1982. Due to the excessive use of polythene, the sewerage system in various cities of the country, including the capital, was severely disrupted in 1998. As a result, the country enacted a law in 2002 banning the production, marketing and sale of polythene bags.

Polythene is cheap and its alternative is the golden polybags made of jute. Unfortunately, it is not possible to control the use of polythene due to lack of government initiative and apathy. Polythene bags produced through recycling of waste materials are not only poisoning the food items, but also the main reason for the every year waterlogging in the cities during the monsoon. According to a study, 14 million polythene bags are being deposited every day in Dhaka. The used polythene is burnt down, which can lead to complex diseases including cancer, skin diseases, liver and kidney damage.

The main ingredient of polythene bags is synthetic polymer made from petroleum. About 4 per cent of the world's mineral oil is used each year to make these huge polythene bags. One study found that burning a ton of jute bags or sacks released 2 gig joules of heat and 150 KG of carbon dioxide into the air. On the other hand, burning one ton of polythene bag releases 63 giga joules of heat and 1340 tons of carbon dioxide into the air.

According to Dhaka WASA, 1 billion polythene bags in Dhaka alone have been amassed underground. As a result, new layers are being formed under the soil, which is disrupting the normal flow of water and oxygen to the surface, destroying the crop's ability to produce grain. At the same time, polythene contributes to the continuous heating of the earth's surface by chemical reactions, which causes earthquakes, lightning, and ultraviolet radiation. Considering these disadvantages, the World Health Organization has recommended the use of eco-friendly jute sacks or bags for packing food grains and sugar.

Although the mills are fined for environmental pollution or the administration's role in polluting rivers and reservoirs or occupiers is obvious, there is no strict enforcement of the law to prevent the use of polythene. Due to this, the use of banned polythene is increasing at an alarming rate. Although more awareness is needed to stop this crime, the law enforcement needs to be increased. Otherwise its production, marketing and use cannot be stopped. Due to lack of proper implementation of this law, unscrupulous traders have been freely producing and marketing banned polythene.

Besides, a type of tissue polythene is being produced with the raw material of polythene at present. Producers say it is 'environmentally friendly'' but a BUET experiment found that tissue polythene, like polythene, is "harmful" to the environment. However, the newly invented eco-friendly jute polybag can be easily used as an alternative to polythene, all it takes to government initiative and goodwill.

Some 72 countries of the world including Bangladesh have banned the use of polythene. Although all countries have imposed penalties on the use of polythene, the use has not been stopped. The Kenyan government issued a law to arrest anyone who saw polythene in their hands. The Irish government has imposed additional taxes to reduce the use of polythene bags. Portugal and Spain have also taken similar steps. Provisions were made to arrest anyone found with polythene at Ugandan airports, but this could not be implemented for long as alternatives to polythene were not known.

While environmentally harmful polythene bags have become a cause of concern around the world, this natural jute polybag will help reduce the world's environmental pollution. If we can use this demand of the world to produce jute polybags, it will start a new trend in the economy of Bangladesh, as well as protect the polluted environment in our polythene bags.

Now, the use of paper and jute bags can protect our environment from the effects of polythene. As jute polybags are eco-friendly and affordable, so extensive publicity is needed in the mass media with the government monitoring for the banning of the production, marketing and use of polythene. Besides, it is necessary to build a polythene-free Bangladesh to protect the environment.
The writer is a banker and
freelance contributor


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