Letter of the Day | Short-sighted to ban plastic bags
Published:Wednesday | October 3, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
With all its good intention, Jamaica's proposed ban on plastic bags is a knee-jerk reaction that is certain to cause more harm than good. The industrial world continues unabated to pump millions of tons of plastic waste into oceans and landfills daily. Jamaica's contribution to these massive garbage mountains is less than tiny hardly a blip in terms of environmental harm. Global pollution causing acid rain, ozone depletion, and breathing problems do much more harm to Jamaica than any pollution that is generated locally. The decision to ban 'scandal bags' is really no more than good PR for the Government; a distraction at best.
In practical terms, however, a ban on plastic bags will negatively impact thousands of local businesses. These include garment stores, supermarkets, farmers, itinerant vendors, food handlers, homeowners and anyone who wraps, stores or discards stuff. Most of these people will now be forced to buy far more expensive alternative bagging, and pass such costs on to an already overburdened public. On balance, a ban is not the answer and the Government should reconsider immediately.
On the other hand, we definitely need to clean up our local environment. The ubiquitous 'scandal bags' clogging gullies, drains, and beaches are worse than eyesores and germ breeders. But plastic, per se, is not the real culprit. The real culprit is our people's nastiness and their irresponsible behaviour with trash. It sickens one's stomach to see garbage flying from moving vehicles; and to see people sneakily leave their garbage on sidewalks, in open lots and gullies for others to handle.
Add to that are the ineptitude of enforcement with regards to illegal dumping, and the failure of authority to prosecute and fine people who do not clean up their properties. These are the actions that can restore cleanliness and a sense of respect for ourselves and for the Jamaican environment. Far better to launch an islandwide clean-up campaign backed with severe penalties for illegal dumping, than to ban useful bags.
GLEN McFARLANE,
St Catherine