Non-woven bags more harmful than poly bags
7th January, 2021 10:30:26
Nowadays non-woven bags are being used indiscriminately for many purposes, but they are more harmful than polythene bags to public health and environment.
Non-woven shopping bags are now reigning supreme in the country, which people take as alternative to harmful polythene bags. Non-woven bags look safe but they are more hazardous, experts say.
Non-woven bags are made of spun and bond polypropylene fiber. They are soft and air-permeable. Non-woven bags are produced from non-biodegradable plastics. They are manufactured on a machine by spreading rolls of plastic, environmentalists say.
Lack of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned has been blamed for the rampant use of the hazardous non-woven bags in the country, they opined.
The textiles and jute ministry issued a circular to this effect on December 6.
In January 2014, the government had made it mandatory to source half of the jute bags and sacks for the packaging of paddy, rice, wheat and fertiliser from the jute mills run by the BJMC and the rest from private sources. But the government shut all of the 25 jute mills of the BJMC in July to get rid of continuous losses. The corporation used to supply half of the jute bags and sacks used by the food department and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation.
The latest decision came at a meeting at the textiles and jute ministry on December 2. Lokman Hossain Miah, textiles and jute secretary, presided over the meeting.