EFFECTIVENESS OF BANNING PLASTIC BAG IN BANGLADESH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Abstract

Ranging from degradation of air quality to increase in ocean toxicity, plastic bag contributes to disruption of ecosystem processes and the environmental attributes. Plastic bag is the cheapest and most available means to carry goods. However, mass use and improper disposal of this product generate severe environmental issues in developing countries. Bangladesh promulgated nationwide ban on plastic bag in 2002 as a protective measure for safeguarding environment and ecosystem. This study investigates the effectiveness of the ban in the south-west region of Bangladesh. A total of 180 randomly selected retailers from six upazilas of three districts in the south-west region of Bangladesh were surveyed taking one rural and one urban agglomerate from each district. More than three-fourths of the retailers provide plastic bag to the customers and only four percent retailers provide jute bag. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of authority to execute the ban is insignificant that generates the scope of violating the banning efforts of plastic bag. The retailers endorse that lack of alternative bag is the reason behind violating the ban on plastic bag. The logistic regression results suggest that frequency of raid by public authority, non-availability of alternative product, lack of knowledge regarding deteriorating impact of plastic bag on ecosystem and environment, and business license significantly influence the retailers to comply with the enforcement of banning plastic bag, whereas the proximity of shop to the main road provides room for non-compliance. This study suggests for easy availability of environment friendly bag, awareness among mass people and frequent raid from the authority which will contribute in environmental protection and ecosystem restoration through effectively enabling the ban.