Blame people, not plastics for degrading environment

How's this for a whitewash of plastics? FNBlame people, not plastic, for damage to environmentBy Sanket Upadhyay, Indo-Asian News ServiceNew Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Claiming plastic was unjustly demonised, a leadingIndian proponent of the synthetic substance says it is people disposing ofplastic carelessly who are to blame for damage to the environment."We need to make people realise that once a plastic product has served itspurpose, it should not be disposed of at places where it is likely to causeproblems, like rivers, drains and pipes," said K.G. Ramanathan, president,governing council, Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE)."Plastic can be recycled and used in many different ways," he pointed out.ICPE last week released a book called "Plastics for Environment andSustainable Development" in the capital to highlight the many uses ofplastic and its importance to society."We truly live in a plastic age. How can we say no to it?" asked Ramanathan,claiming that environmentalists who advocate a ban on plastic shouldconsider its importance to ordinary people."The main argument today is that because most plastic products are notbiodegradable, they have a toxic effect on the environment. The challengethough is better waste management."If disposed in a dump safely, plastic can be segregated and then recycled.People should realise that the more plastic products they use, the more theyare protecting natural resources."Use of plastic furniture, doors, flooring would save many trees, whichwould help reduce pollution."K.P. Nanavaty, a member of the ICPE governing council, said plastics werealso widely used to make military hardware."Plastics are used in defence and national security applications. Riflebutts and pistol grips, anti-mine casings and boots, artillery guns andbullets, helmets and armours, rockets and propellants are all made frompolymeric composite materials," said Nanavaty.--Indo-Asian News Service