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Use and sale of plastic bags in the country was banned since June 2, 1999. It made headlines. More than a decade on the ban has remained ineffective. Plastics are rampant. From individuals to businesses everybody is seen carrying plastics. According to Thimphu Thromde, plastics form a significant portion of total waste generated.
Plastics are non-biodegradable, cause environment pollution for long time and pose health risks as well. In keeping with this, the ban was introduced in by the Department of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the National Environment Commission, the then Ministry of Health and Education, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the then Ministry of Communication.
Rules are put in place. Any trader found selling or using plastics will be liable for a fine of Nu. 500 for the first offence.For the second time, the fine will be doubled. If found repeated it will result to cancellation of their trade license.
However, it failed to work. So, it was further reinforced in 2005 and then again in 2009.Nothing concrete came out of it.
Today if you visit any of the shops you can see various items packed and sold in plastics- be it at the vegetable markets, along the highways and on the streets, fruits, cheese, butter, and many kinds of snacks. It is all in plastics.
Kinley Dorji, a shopkeeper near the vegetable market, cited lack of alternatives in place as the main reason for the ban to fail. He said unless an alternative is offered plastics will be used.“The government banned the use of plastic bags and they didn’t show us the alternatives. If they provide us with alternatives we are ready to go for it. We use those plastics as it is very convenient for the customers and also cheaper for us.”
He also said if the government really want to stop the use they should monitor it on the daily basis. They were monitored only for few days and now, he said,it’s been years seen there hasn’t been any checking.
“They came for checking for about a week. During that time they imposed me a fine of 500 ngultrum for using the plastic. They even seized my licence. Now it has been so long that I haven’t seen them monitoring,” he added.
Similarly, the other shopkeepers said they prefer to use plastics as it is more hygienic, light and available at a lower cost. Some said the alternative of using the paper bags is expensive for them.
“I tried using the alternatives like paper bags and cloth bags as plastics are harmful to the environment. But, it was too expensive for us. Since the inspectors didn’t come to monitor for a long time we thought the ban was lifted,” said Jumchum, a Shopkeeper, adding that customers always ask for plastic when they come to buy things.
Another Shopkeeper said that they use the plastics as itis very convenient. “We can sell more when it is packed easily as most of the people don’t carry bags while they come for shopping. During the ban we tried to use paper bags but papers are very fragile and we cannot pack items like sugar, rice and other heavy ones,” said Jojo.
One of the commonly items packed in plastics is the Zaw (locally toasted rice). Some of the shopkeepers said that it looks more hygienic. “No one told us that plastics are still banned so I also use it like the rest of my friends,” said Gyeltshen.
It is not just the sellers alone using the plastics. A look around in the town one can still see most of the people carrying plastic bags. They said they have heard about the ban but they were never penalised for using it.
“We have heard about the plastic ban but still it is used and I also use it because no one tells us anything about it. Shopkeepers sell in those plastics so I buy it,” said Dorji, a local resident.
Another Thimphu resident Namgay Lham said: “I have heard about the ban before but when we come to the market most of the time we don’t carry bags from home. So I use the plastics, which are available in the market. It is convenient for us to carry.”
According to the National Environment Commission they are looking for means to reduce the plastic litter in the country.
“Plastic is very hazardous to environment and human health. The plastic litter in the country is increasing at a very fast pace,” said Dr. Ugen Tshewang, Secretary of the National Environment Commission.
“It is not only the plastic waste in Thimphu but we will collect it from all the Dzongkhags, compact it and chip it. This will help reduce the plastic litter.”
Despite enforcing the ban for three times it has still remained as a tale. Is it because of lack of awareness? What went wrong, where and who is responsible for the failure. Are the implementing agencies failing their duties to monitor the plastic ban?
BBS tried to contact the Department of Trade. They said it is the responsibility of the Department of Industry. When BBS approached the Department they said it was the Planning and Policy Division as the concerned agency. BBS was made to call from one Department to another and hence could not any comments from the concerned officials.
