PLASTICS

Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecule mass and often contain other substance. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, however , an array of variants are made from renewable materials such as polylactic acid from corn or cellulosics from cotton linters. Plastics have really posed great problems these days. Plastic bags have replaced paper and jute bags which are less durable and beautiful. On the country plastic carry bags and packets do not easily perish and are attractive. These are being widely and extensively used to carry groceries, Vegetables, fish, flowers, fruits and lot of other essential commodities. The use of plastic bags and packets has created different problems. They are not easily destructable not biodegradable. These can only be destroyed if burned. But the burning of plastic will add to air pollution and emit bad smell. If thrown into drains, they choke them. Thrown into fields, they will make them unploughable and infertile. Excessive use of plastic carries and containers has made jute bags redundant almost destroying jute industry. The trade in plastic waste has been identified as "a main culprit" of marine litter. Countries importing the waste plastics often lack the capacity to process all the material. As a result, the United Nations has imposed a ban on waste plastic trade unless it meets certain criteria. Plastic pollution has the potential to poison animals, which can then adversely affect human food supplies. Plastic pollution has been described as being highly deter mental to large marine mammals, described in the book introduction to Marine Biology as posing the "single greatest threat" to them. Compounds that are used in manufacturing pollute the environment by releasing chemicals into the air and water. Some compounds that are used in plastics, such as phthalates, bisphenol A, polybromide diphenyl ether are under close statute and might be very hurtful. To check and combat plastic nuisance, use of paper and jute bags and containers has to be encouraged and ensured. There should always be a campaign against the use of plastics.