Polythene producers in dilemma

by Ananda Kannangara

Industrialist and Managing Director of Plastic Packaging (Pvt) Ltd., Mervyn Dias in an interview with the 'Sunday Observer' said the Government should encourage manufacturers to produce oxo-biodegradable polythene which are environmental-friendly.

Below are some excerpts of the interview:

Question - Government has banned manufacture of polythene bags and sheets which are supposed to be less than 20 microns from 1st of January next year. What's your comment on this new law ?

Answer - As manufacturers, we have to fall in line with the Government's law. But, we know that more HDPE resin is required to increase the thickness to manufacture 20 microns bags and sheets. As a result, the quantity of polythene that gets buried into the soil is about four times than at present.

Q - Do you think, manufacturing more than 20 microns polythene products is environmental-friendly?

A - This is actually not an environmental-friendly solution, because the soil is mixed with more polythene than now.

Q - Then how do you manufacture polythene bags and sheets that will not harm the environment?

A - I believe polythene films should be oxo-biodegradable. As we are aware oxo-biodegradable bags or sheets degrades under any condition within a certain time period and therefore do not pollute the soil.

Q - Could you explain why oxo-biodegradable bags or sheets do not pollute the soil?

A - They are manufactured with high quality additive called PDQ-H which is imported from the USA. They degrades fast and disappear within a short period under the heat, sunlight or at any other place where oxygen available.

The polythene first degrades by oxidation into much smaller molecules, then these smaller molecules are consumed by naturally occurring micro-organisms, that use them as a source of energy and to build cell structure.

Q - What is the degradation time period of oxo-biodegradable polythene?

A - The degradation time period of oxo-biodegradable bags can be shortened or lengthened depending on the percentage of additives, added to the chemical structure.

Q - What is the difference between oxo-biodegradable bags and non - degradable bags which are commonly used in our country?

A - Unlike oxo-biodegradable bags, the non-degradable bags persist for decades after being discarded and therefore it easily pollute the environment.

Q - Will you think the 20 micron minimum thickness law will help to solve the environmental pollution problem?

A - In 2005, we used 14510 mts of HDPE to manufacture polythene film to the domestic market. But, when it increase to 20 microns another 7255 mt's would have to be imported incurring extra foreign exchange. On the other hand, we know even 20 microns are not environmentally friendly as they too will be in our soil for long years without being degraded.

Q - What do you say about the quality of the bags and sheets, manufactured with recycled polythene?

A - Recycled polythene are not suitable for packing, storing or carrying food products. But they can be used for various other purposes.

Q - Can we use oxo-biodegradable film to wrap food?

A - Yes, these bags are safe to come in direct contact with food. These films have been tested in Rapra Ltd, UK and will comply with EC directives.

Q - Finally, what do you have to say further?

A - Authorities must do a further study on the importance of manufacturing oxo-biodegradable bags.

They should also exempt the ban for oxo-biodegradable bags and sheets which are even manufactured less than 20 microns, because once the bags or sheets are thrown out they degrade automatically.