Plastic Ban: Single-Use Plastic Ban Challenges in Odisha Despite Enforcement Efforts | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Pollution Control Board collected 17 tonnes of plastic water bottles during the nine-day-long Rath Yatra in Puri in July, undermining the authorities’ effort in enforcing the ban on single-use plastic. Despite the ban by state govt, plastic items continue to flood markets, events and households. “Not only pet bottles but plastic bags with a thickness of less than 120 microns and single-use plastic cutleries like plates, glasses, spoons, straws and forks can be seen everywhere from roadside vendors to restaurants.Initiatives taken by the civic authorities are short-term and have been discontinued before it could get some results,” experts said.
“The huge amount of plastic waste generated during Rath Yatra shows the lack of awareness among masses towards this hazardous material. Though the forest and environment department and civic authorities are the implementing agencies of the ban on single- use plastic items, we have to restrategise for better enforcement,” K Murugesan, member secretary of Odisha State Pollution Control Board, said.
“I find it really upsetting when I see people using single-use plastic bottles as the only option for drinking water in social, official or cultural events, both indoor and outdoor. For any event with 100 guests at least 200-300 bottles are used. When I tried to explore alternatives in the market, I was shocked to know that vendors are not ready to provide big containers and paper glasses. It is high time for stronger enforcements and greater public awareness,” Himashu Parida, a resident of Saheed Nagar, said.
“The initiatives and ban on plastics imposed by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) are short-lived and have ended in photo-ops. The enforcement is limited to poor vendors only. Occasional seizure will not help,” Pratap Sahu, president of National Roadside Vendors Association, said.
BMC officials said 10 dedicated teams have been enforcing the ban on single-use plastics in the city and in the last six months, 2.6 tonnes of single-use plastic were seized and 257 shops have been closed temporarily. A total amount of Rs 4.4 lakh have been collected, sources said. “We are working on a strategy to overcome this challenge of eliminating single use plastics. We have been promoting plastic free or zero waste events and planning to set up cloth bag vending machines in markets,” BMC commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Pati said.
We also published the following articles recently
A study from Danube Private University indicated that drinking water from plastic bottles can elevate blood pressure due to microplastics entering the bloodstream. Participants who avoided plastic bottle fluids showed lower blood pressure levels. The study suggests that reducing plastic use could be beneficial for cardiovascular health, with filtering tap water as a recommended measure.
The Nandanvan Jungle Safari in Nava Raipur enforced a plastic ban starting August 18. Tourists can’t bring plastic items and must pay a refundable fee for plastic bottles they carry. The initiative aims to educate visitors on eco-friendly practices and combat environmental damage caused by plastic waste.
Actress Shana Wall filed a lawsuit against an American airline after ingesting plastic particles from a beverage on a flight from New York to Rome. The incident, which occurred on May 1, resulted in serious injuries to her throat, esophagus, vocal cords, and digestive system. Wall is seeking an undisclosed amount for the damages endured.
