Millions around the country and the globe joined hands to run a crusade against plastic this month. On 5th June, the world environment day, we saw a plethora of Facebook posts, banners, Whatsapp forwards, videos and massive content on how plastic was killing our planet. Amid a certain sense of guilt, a certain sense of awakening was also imbibed by the citizens of the country.?
On March 23, Maharashtra announced a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials such as one-time-use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items. The announcement comes days after Modi announcement that he will eliminate all single-use plastic in the country by 2022.?
This ban in Maharashtra keeps people from using plastic on regular basis in daily life - from buying vegetables to condiments, from buying produces to water. The state-wide plastic ban, including carry-bags and thermocol, will result in loss of many jobs and revenue.?But this is not the only problem. The ban also comes with a lot of ambiguity and confusion as people do not know what to not use or use. They do not know about the alternatives.?
One Facebook user points out the absurdity of this law. While people cannot use plastic, they still can use things that come packaged in plastic. Darshan Mondkar took it to Facebook to express his views on the law and how it's affecting everyone -
Darshan's post has highlighted the loopholes that the Maharastra government needs to address. It's almost as if the ban has been put on common people and not on organizations who churn tonnes and tonnes of plastic every day.?