The Vasco municipality made a tremendous effort to make this year’s Saptah fair plastic-free. There was a total ban on the use of plastic carry-bags. Schools, NGOs, colleges, social clubs also contributed to the ‘Beat the Plastic’ campaign by providing thousands of bags made of paper.
After all the effort put in, one would have expected the minimal of plastic present on the streets after the fair was over. But things were quite to the contrary as seen in the photo.
Huge heaps of plastic were left behind by the traders as they dismantled their stalls. This plastic waste did not include carry-bags but waste from plastic wrappings of goods that were sold during the duration of the fair, torn plastic sheets used to cover the stalls and huge plastic bags in which the traders brought goods for sale. All this plastic pollution is obviously beyond the control of the local authorities.
Unless the goods are wrapped in paper and cardboard boxes by the manufacturers it will be very difficult for the authorities to make any fair in the state plastic free. Obviously carry bags are not the only reason for the plastic pollution.
