We are again brought into a weird unrealistic idea that is clearly no more than mere sloganeering. In order to protect the environment, government has brought the idea of discouraging people from utilizing plastics that are not organic and contaminate the environment. We are all aware of the hazards that plastics bring not only to the environment but to human health as well.
The dangers of the toxic materials that plastics transfer to our food when used as containers are very real. It may not cause immediate adverse effects, but we are all victims of some sort of food poisoning every time we use plastic for our food. The concern raised in keeping these non-biodegradable materials from the bowels of the earth may have some basis. But just how can government stop the use of plastic from dirtying our environment is a big question.
While people are using plastic as part of daily life, it is hard to reorient their ways into non-plastic habits. The use of the material has found wide acceptance that it has eliminated the biodegradable materials. Before, papers were used as wrappers for many items, we now seldom see people using paper for such simple purposes. The convenience of using plastic has caught the mindset of people that they no longer think of the ill effects that plastics bring to the environment. But the concern is really more on the improper disposal of garbage that ruins our environment.
If plastics are hazardous to life, by all means government must take appropriate measures to protect the people. It is very impractical to focus the drive on the end-user. The suggestion to cut the problem at the root cause is always the best option. Efforts should be made to stop its production if the material is hazardous. Making a campaign that discourages end users is deemed ineffective. It speaks of something that is being done for the sake of doing something.
Already, local government units had passed ordinances banning the use of plastics in department stores, malls and food chains. The ordinances are now being observed in many localities. Except where the use of plastics is necessary such as for containers of food items in the wet market section like sea foods, meat and other wet products, the prohibition is gradually being observed by both sellers and consumers.
If government is serious in saving and protecting the environment, it should set its attention on promoting the use of organic materials such as banana leaves for fish and other seafood products. It must also stop the problem at the source by regulating the production of plastic bags, otherwise, all these brouhaha would be mere acts of plasticity.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com
