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P.T. Jyothi Datta
K.R. Srivats

Plastics are used in medical kits to benches, doors, food-packaging, pipes, computer and telecom items etc. Mr K.G. Ramanathan propounds the principle of "recovery, recycle and reuse".

NEW DELHI, Feb. 17

HIT by the sustained `say no to plastics campaign' by both the Government and pro-greens - the plastics industry has urged the powers that be not to " throw the baby with the bathwater."

The problems are not to do with plastics per se, but more to do with solid waste management, says Mr K.G. Ramanathan, President - Governing Council, Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE).

"Plastics account for only six per cent of the total solid waste. So even if you ban plastics, one still has to deal with the remaining 94 per cent," he said. He was until recently CMD of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL).

Responding to the environmental and health concerns that have been raised in the past, he said: "Except PVC, no other plastics are toxic in nature. Even in the case of PVC, technologies are emerging where toxicity can be minimised. But the use of PVCs are not carcinogenic, or cancer causing. For instance, blood-pouches are made of PVC, let's not condemn a performance-oriented material."

On toxic emissions, he observed: "Dioxin emission issues arise in the case of PVC if it is burnt wrongly." On allegations that plastics were responsible for depleting natural resources, he pointed out that only four per cent of global oil resources went into petrochemicals, the rest being used for energy."

The anti-plastic call, according to him, boils down to waste disposal issues. "The government needs to put in place recycling infrastructure and make segregation of waste at source, mandatory. Industry cannot act as policemen, for ensuring implementation of responsible use of plastics, but it could be brought on board through initiatives by the government and non-government organisations in this direction," he said.

Pointing out that plastics are used in a range of products, from medical products to benches, doors, food-packaging, pipes, computer and telecom items etc - he propounds the principle of "recovery, recycle and reuse".

`Bio-degradable bags in 5 years'

The ICPE, an industry-funded body, is working with the National Chemical Laboratories (NCL) to identify biodegradable plastic products. Mr Ramanathan expressed confidence that carry-bags will become biodegradable in another five years.

"We will come up with a policy document for the Government to peruse and act on it," he said.

According to him, India's existing polymer capacity of 4 million tonnes may prove to be inadequate to meet domestic demand in a couple of years.

"There are no new projects in the near term. By 2010, demand for polymers in the country will be around 10 million tonnes."

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