Question

Why is the government of India imposing a ban on the use of polythene bags? Suggest two alternatives to these bags and explain how this ban is likely to improve the environment.

Answer 1

In the environment, polythene bags are most mainly distributed and have a very slow decomposition rate. They are very harmful to organisms and once they are ingested, they cause infections as they will remain in the digestive system.

Complete Answer:
The Government of India imposes a prohibition on the use of polythene bags because the behaviour of micro-organisms cannot spontaneously destroy them. They live in the soil for a long time because of their non-biodegradability and start contaminating the soil with poisonous by-products that keep leaching from them.

Even, since they are waterproof, they do not enable water to flow and cause blockage. When mistakenly ingested by stray animals, these polythene sacks harm them and can also lead to their death. In spite of polythene bags, jute and cotton bags can be used.

The benefits of using cotton and jute bags are as follows:
- They are biodegradable, they are eco-friendly.
- They are reusable and can be recycled with ease.
- Since they are thick and can be used again and again, they have greater resilience than polythene bags.
Thus, it can help to minimize pollution by using jute and cotton bags.

Note: Harmful impacts of plastic bags also occurs on plants. Not even plants are safe from damage caused by bags. When plastics break down in the soil, harmful chemicals, such as Bisphenol A ( BPA), are released that can affect natural microorganisms relying on plants for life.