Action Group Against Plastic Pollution
An initiative of concerned citizens against the NON- enforcement of 2016 Act of Ban of Polythene Bags and NON- essential Single use plastic. 17 Jan 2021
Action Group Against Plastic Pollution ( AGAPP)
AGAPP was launched in Aug 2020 by very worried citizens after they saw that even in the pandemic, when vegetables and fruits were being delivered to houses door to door by sellers in trucks or vans, housewives were accepting plastic (polythene) bags. We have seen that awareness campaigns for the public are bound to fail as environmental education is very poor among the general public. We CANNOT sit watch our earth and oceans bear the brunt of our violations. Background:
2016: The Punjab Govt in 2016 amended the Punjab Plastic Carry Bags Control Act, 2005 to completely prohibit manufacture, stocking, distribution, recycling, sale or use of plastic carry bags and containers made of virgin or recycled plastic and plastic items having one time use such as disposable plastic cups, spoons, forks, and straws after issuing notification in this regard. Dept of Local Govt and Dept of Rural Development and Panchayat have accordingly put a complete ban on plastic carry bags in their respective jurisdictions w.e.f 1st April 2016.
2020 : NOT been enforced. Thousands of tons of single use plastic bags (made of polythene) are used across Punjab daily. Non woven bags masquerading as cloth are made of plastic polymers as well. Dec 31 2020 : The AGAPP wrote an open letter to the CM, Punjab . Feb 11 2020 : AGAPP got an email directing local bodies to work on enforcing this ban. Jalandhar's local body head, Commissioner Municipal Corporation gave an order to Health commissioner to start IEP activities. The PMIDC ( in charge of solid waste management in Chandigarh) in the meantime wrote an email in response to AGAPP's request to start awareness of compostable plastic bags (approved by Central Pollution Control Board many years ago but not propagated at all by the government , shopkeepers unaware of or being misled about their use at present). In that email PMIDC wrote there was nothing like compostable bags and to use only paper or cloth bags to substitute polythene bags. AGAPP has contacted the PPCB and CPCB in vain( multiple phone calls, emails and a meeting in Patiala) to resolve this issue without which the ban will be almost impossible to enforce as compostable plastic bags are the best known substitute for fossil fuel based plastic bags. The Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Punjab is not responding to requests to clarify either although in their own directive in 2019 they advocated using jute bags or compostable plastic bags instead of plastic bags made of polythene and plastic polymers , the latter look like cloth to deceive citizens). AGAPP is aware of hefty bribes given to the politicians in Chandigarh by plastic manufacturers to ensure the ban is not enforced. PPCB officials have been rude and dismissive in person and on phone calls with AGAPP. ONLY citizen action and protests will awaken the powers that be to enforce this vital law on single use plastic ban. Feb 23 to March 9, 2021 : AG APP has contacted the PPCB and CPCB in vain( multiple phone calls, and a meeting in Patiala 10 March 2021) to resolve this issue without which the ban will be almost impossible to enforce as compostable plastic bags are the best known substitute for fossil fuel based plastic bags. March 18 2021 :Emailed the Chairman, The Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Punjab to clarify as in their own directive in 2019 they advocated using jute bags or compostable plastic bags instead of plastic bags made of polythene and plastic polymers , the latter look like cloth to deceive citizens. NO RESPONSE TO email , no answer to multiple phone calls on number provided by Chairman's own environmental engineer. March 21 and April 2, 2021- AGAPP emailed CPCB chairman and two secretaries, CPCB. April 3 to April 7, 2021- AGAPP left daily phone messages for PA Chairman, CPCB to respond to email or by phone to AGAPP's query about PMIDC's denial of use of compostable bags thus retarding any progress on the ground. NO RESPONSE at all. We are aware of hefty bribes given to the politicians in Chandigarh to ensure the ban is not enforced. TAKE YOUR EARTH BACK
JOIN AGAPP. We need funds to move forward to thwart the governments efforts to maintain status quo with single use plastic because of vested interests and corrupt officials as we consume microplastics and worse . FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS :
1. Vendors say compostable bags are eaten by rats and ants. Answer : Our manufacturers and distributors store these bags in sacks safely for years. An AGAPP worker has compostable garbage bags (yes they are available).She has had these at home stored for three years. No rats have bothered her or the bags in all that time. If rats and ants like them, it proves our point-- they are made of starch after all. Eliminate rats. Do not eliminate compostable bags.
2. Compostable bags are more expensive. Well, there is little demand and limited supply at the moment. Once the ban is enforced, that will change as plastic bag factories close and start making compostable bags instead. The machinery is the same. AGAPP’s current approved source of compostable bags is providing them at a subsidised manufacturing rate to boost their use as the word spreads with AGAPP awareness work. Moreover, vendors can charge customers for giving these bags. Shoppers will then have incentive to get their own bag. This worked well in the brief period in 2016 when the plastic ban was enforced.,
3. How can I help? AGAPP is a group of 12 concerned citizens who also have day jobs and families like you.This group alone cannot change status quo. We need help from citizens in this vital activism. If you can devote minimum of an hour daily on weekdays and have expertise/ passion, we need you NOW to do any of these:
-twitter storms to awaken the government and citizenry
-on ground awareness drives in markets
- making and maintaining AGAPP’s page
- press releases
- school and colleges
- letter writing to PPCB to ban plastic bag manufacture
- letter writing to CM and local bodies minister, including using their websites
- persuading vendors in distribution of compostable bags
4. I do not have any activism experience. We will train you and you will train new volunteers if you choose to.
5. I use the cloth bags I get in mithaai shops and fabric shops. Those are also made of polymers that look like cloth to fool customers. Refuse them please. If you have them at home, reuse them time and time again till worn out. Carry your own bags. If not, use compostable bags only.
6. How can I join Action Group Against Plastic Pollution (AGAPP)? At the moment, we are based only in Jalandhar. If you live here (unless you are able to help with Facebook and social media use in which anyone in the world can help) ,please send a statement of interest in Punjabi/ Hindi/English to Dr Navneet Bhullar’s email below OR whatsapp to Dr Anjali Arora at 74043 25801 along with your resume with a contact number. The statement of interest would be a three or four sentence paragraph telling us in what action you can help and why you are interested in AGAPP ( see #3 of Frequently Asked Questions). We will interview you after that for AGAPP volunteer membership. You have to attend weekly AGAPP meetings which are held in a Jalandhar building around 3 or 4 pm mostly on weekdays and you have to commit a minimum of three hours of AGAPP work weekly with regular Whatsapp message checks and email use. AGAPP,
Jalandhar. Please do contact us by email. AGAPP welcomes feedback and questions. We need citizens to reach our goal of NO plastic bags in Punjab by summer 2021. Yes impatience can be a virtue in this ecological emergency. [email protected]
