14.12.2012 Views

International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

example, both Italy and France have proposed to ban plastic bags in 2010. 618 Wales<br />

is known to be considering a ban.<br />

Elsewhere, bans have been imposed on a state-wide, city-wide or town-wide basis.<br />

These tend to be bans on the distribution <strong>of</strong> plastic bags, as these are the only<br />

powers available to the relevant authorities. Some <strong>of</strong> the most high pr<strong>of</strong>ile cases<br />

include;<br />

526<br />

� San Francisco, USA;<br />

� Coles Bay, Tasmania, Australia;<br />

� Maharashtra, India;<br />

� Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, Canada; and<br />

� Modbury, Devon, UK<br />

In Bangladesh and other countries faced with monsoon rains, plastic bags are<br />

believed to cause havoc with drainage systems. In some instances, plastic bags have<br />

been identified as a key cause <strong>of</strong> urban flooding. Specifically in Bangladesh, it is<br />

believed that plastic bags contributed to the magnitude <strong>of</strong> the 1998 floods, where<br />

75% <strong>of</strong> the country was submerged.<br />

31.3 Key Organisations Involved in Implementation and<br />

<strong>Management</strong><br />

In Bangladesh, the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Environment is the regulator <strong>of</strong> the ban.<br />

Implementation <strong>of</strong> legislation was keyed by the Cabinet, via the Ministry <strong>of</strong><br />

Environment and Forests. <strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> the policy is directed by the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

Environment. Elsewhere a similar model is utilised.<br />

31.4 Pre-implementation / Evaluation Studies Available<br />

31.4.1 Bangladesh<br />

Through the Sustainable Environment <strong>Management</strong> Programme (SEMP), a task force<br />

was commissioned to study the effects <strong>of</strong> phasing out polythene bags. The task force<br />

fashioned a report which outlined the implications <strong>of</strong> imposing a ban. After a change<br />

in government in 2001, a ban was imposed in Dhaka City on 1 st January 2002.<br />

Within three months, the ban had been extended to the whole country. 619<br />

618 http://www.endseurope.com/11239 and http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0527/plasticbags.html<br />

consulted October 2008.<br />

619 Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (2006) A Step Forward to Promoting Environmentally<br />

Sustainable Development in Bangladesh, available at http://ekh.unep.org/?q=node/2220<br />

29/09/09

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!