Continuing its relentless efforts to aware the general public to use starchable compostable biodegradable carry bags in the place of plastic carry bags, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) along with Member of Parliament (MP) Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday launched compostable bags in the presence of hundreds of plastic manufacturers and traders.Holding a meeting with representatives of various associations of plastic manufacturers and traders in Circuit House, PPCB Chief Environmental Engineer (CEE) Pradeep Gupta gave a detailed presentation about the compostable bags and its benefits.He appealed them to shift towards compostable bags as an environmentally friendly approach keeping in view harmful effects of plastic on the environment. Gupta told that the compostable bags are found to be durable and the strength of the bags is found to be good. The trial of the bags was found to be successful, he told.He stated that at present, five companies are manufacturing such compostable bags in India and raw material is being imported as these bags are being made of corn starch, potato starch, and cane starch.The official also informed that an estimated 130-tonne Plastic Carry Bags are being used In Ludhiana daily and 225-tonne in Punjab daily.
On the revelation by PPCB officials that there is 10-12 percent consumption of compostable bags in Punjab, MP Ravneet Singh Bittu called it appreciative change and lauded the role of Punjab government and PPCB.While addressing the media, Bittu told that with the intensive awareness drive is being carried out by PPCB throughout the state, the day will come soon when plastic bags will be completely disappeared.He said that the supply and use of the compostable bags could not be controlled as there is a huge demand.He advised plastic carry bag manufacturers to shift towards manufacturing of compostable carry bags by using starch derived from maize and potatoes. MP added that same machines can be used to manufacture to produce these compostable carry bags.On being quizzed, MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh told the media persons that MC is regularly issuing challans for the use of polythene bags.Later, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu also joined the meeting and assured fulsome support in creating awareness drive among people about compostable bags.On the occasion, Plastic Manufacturers and Traders Association Gurdeep Singh Batra hailed the effort of Punjab government and PPCB for excessively promoting compostable bags.