To say that pollution from discarded plastics is a global problem would be underselling the severity of its impact.
Despite the very obvious, disastrous effects plastic has on the environment, the fact remains that it is still cheap and convenient for the average consumer and manufacturer alike. It is in the interest of many to keep the widespread usage of plastic alive, and so, attempts to curb it have been ineffective to say the least.
Things need to change.
To that end, the recent announcement made by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change about a roadmap to phase out single-use plastics in coastal areas is a great place to start.
With our beaches and coastal areas proving to be attractive destinations for tourists, banning single use plastics in such areas would not only help such places retain their environmental integrity but it also stands to help innovate and create green jobs, paving the way for true green growth to take root in Bangladesh.
The administration has made many attempts in the past of curbing the use of plastic, by at first banning polythene bags. But in the years since then, the ban seems to have fallen by the wayside.
Such bans have clearly failed to make any meaningful impact, and it is time for stricter policies that must be adhered to, and look to alternatives, such as bringing back the use of jute bags to replace plastic ones. In that way, banning single-use plastics in our coastal areas could be a good first step.
