Question

Give reasons for the following.

Plastic and polythene bags must be banned.

Answer 1

Plastic and polythene bags must be banned because:

1. They are completely non-biodegradable materials that persist in the environment for hundreds of years without decomposing naturally.
2. Discarded bags frequently choke civic drainage and sewage systems, causing artificial urban flooding and waterlogging during heavy monsoons.
3. Stray cattle and marine creatures mistake plastic bags for food, resulting in fatal intestinal blockages and animal choking.
4. Disposing of plastics by burning releases highly hazardous gases like dioxins and furans, causing severe air pollution and respiratory illnesses.
5. They form an impermeable layer in the soil, which blocks the seepage of rainwater and severely hinders groundwater recharge.