Maharashtra Plastic Ban – Garbage disposal: Residents at loss

Even as the ban on plastic bags has caused inconvenience for shoppers and shopkeepers alike, residents of housing societies and traders in the city are facing trouble of another kind. They say the problem lies in whether or not to use bags that are primarily made for segregating garbage at source.

Many residents in their respective societies are having difficulty in disposing garbage like diapers and waste liquid in the absence of plastic bags. They are at a loss because they would not know how to do it. 

"There is a huge shortage, and the shortage has resulted in rise in the prices of these bags. Earlier, we used to pay Rs 45 for 25 bags, but now the plastic traders are demanding Rs 200-230 for the same number. We do not know what is to be done," said Bharat Mane, secretary of a housing society in Navi Mumbai.

On the other hand, Rajesh Malde, a plastic trader at Matunga, said they are not well-informed about the whole development. "We are confused about the ban. The government has said that carry bags which do not have the name of a company or the registration number on them are banned. The garbage bags come under this category. Therefore, we have already stopped buying these from manufacturers. Whatever stock we had is already over," he said.

Furthermore, Malde said that they do not want to buy garbage bags at costly rates. "Even if we buy these garbage bags, no one will buy them from us. Therefore, we have stopped stocking them," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Amol Wagh at JJ hospital said the unhygienic conditions of open garbage can cause several diseases. "Flies and mosquitoes can carry these diseases from one place to another. The main diseases are diarrhoea, typhoid, dengue etc. Therefore, people need to take care and precautions by maintaining hygiene around the society and within their houses. Besides, most of these diseases are caused during the monsoon season," Wagh said.