Posted on 01/16/2009 2:33:59 AM PST by managusta
| New Delhi: If you are still carrying groceries or vegetables from the market in plastic bags or using them to dispose of your garbage, you run the risk of a jail term or fine, or both. An indulgent official machinery may give you time to find alternatives but the ban was put in place last Saturday and covers all shopping areas and big eating joints, hotels and hospitals.
The notification is silent on the earlier rider that bags with thickness of 40 microns and more will be allowed. Since it’s difficult to measure thickness on the spot, the government wants to discourage the use of bags completely. Hence, the total ban.
Since the gazette notification is yet to be published — it’s expected early next week — the ban is yet to sink in. The environment department says the gazette notification will be predated and hence the ban is effectively already in place.
Delhi government officials say they intend giving time to Delhiites to ‘‘settle into the situation’’ and make other arrangements before they begin taking action. Violators will face action under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. They will face imprisonment of up to five years and/or fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
So, while going to the market, make sure you are carrying either a cloth or jute bag. ‘‘We do not want people to be harassed and no prosecution will take place immediately. As people realize the situation and understand that by using plastic bags they will be in contempt of court, they will start using other material,’’ said J K Dadoo, secretary, environment.
Coming soon to a country near you.
My local Giant Food is giving away reusable cloth bags this week.
So when you go to the deli in Delhi....
I recently had a pc video game sent from India.
When I received it I thought they mistakenly sent me a packet of bandages because the envelope was made of cloth instead of paper and it was sealed with resin wax instead of
plastic tape.(The wax looked like blood and gave it the appearence of a bandage.)
Thin plastic bad, thick plastic good?
What if you get more groceries in a week than you have bags for?
The Global Stupidity virus is spreading fast.
Then you are a greedy, selfish person & the excess food will be distributed among the poor, who cannot afford to buy their own.
You may only buy the amount of food you already have bags for and can carry yourself at one time.
When the people rise up and start murdering large numbers of environmentalists, what are the authorities going to use to haul the bodies away in, paper bags?
Just following in the footsteps of these two bastions of rational, critical thinking...
San Francisco (Sodom)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/28/MNGDROT5QN1.DTL
and Portland, OR (Gomorrah )
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/07/portland_ban_plastic_bags.html
DG
Maybe they got the idea from Chitcago, which recently banned small plastic sandwich baggies since drug dealers like to use them.
Nevermind that they also use cigarette cellophane which works just as well.
Or that drugs are already illegal.
Drug dealers will be shocked to find out their baggies are illegal, and quit dealing...
Just some random thoughts on the issue:
(1) When I was in Ireland a couple of years ago I bought a few items from a little grocery downtown Dublin. They charged 5 cents (in euros that equates to more than our 5 cents) for each plastic bag for those of us who insisted on using plastic. They told me that the plastic is being phased out and most shoppers will bring their own reusable bags rather than pay for the plastic.
(2) Someone here asked what if you bought more groceries than will fit in your reusable bags. In most countries people do NOT go to the grocery store in mini-vans or even cars for that matter. They can only buy the amount of groceries that they can carry on their bicycle, motor bike, or the city transit or walking. So that limits them.
(3) I wouldn’t mind giving up plastic grocery bags... I guess I would miss having them handy to use for dog pooper-picker-uppers though.
(4) If they rule out plastic shopper bags, will there still be zip-lock baggies.... now those I don’t want to have to do without. Wrapping leftovers in cheese cloth or paper just does not seal in the freshness!
(5) I am trying to imagine the kitchen tall trash can lined with something other than a plastic liner bag. Rip that thing out, pull the handy-dandy draw-strings and toss it nice and tidy into the big can in the garage. What would the alternative look like?
Please, nobody tell the Seattle City Council about this! Or on second thought, maybe somebody should.
Then you make more trips to the store and use more carbon...
< Indian Accent> Hello sir. Would you like paper or pl....oh. Never mind, come again!
I would. They are perfect for stuffing in the shoulders and sleeves of my suit jackets to avoid creases when traveling.
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