Pay to use plastic, but it’s a Go-Green tax !

To Go-Green is the latest fad, at-least in the many shopping centers or what we call malls.  I will definitely, say this has been largely forced down their throats by the ever so vigilant (well they just woke-up now) Bangalore City Corporation. BBMP or the City Corporation suddenly realized that plastic covers which are thin in nature are causing some problem now, or will cause problem later to the environment, hence they ordered that all shops must use polythene bags that are over 40microns thick. For years, all knew it, but the corporation bosses of this great city never thought, it’s a must to have this rule implemented. Anyhow, the managed to implement and the Shops & Establishments are now pressed to follow it

So coming to what I had to say… I have been since the inception of this rule paying at every shop to get a plastic bag. Some or  most shops charge a nominal 1 Re, but the charges vary 3, 5, 2 etc. I asked a Showroom that sells branded clothes, as to what this money is helping them with, the cashiers reply was ‘Sir, its to discourage usage of plastic bags’. Did I need to know more ?, ah well of-course the answer is a profound No, but leaves me to think that ‘ Did I help the cause, by paying a charge but still use the plastic ‘. Really speaking, none of us are helping the Go-Green cause by paying 1 Re to 5 Rs for continuing to use a plastic bag. The bags are still around, they are being widely flaunted around, largely distributed by the shops… so what’s the fun

In all, what was once free, is now charged, which means the stores have passed on the burden of a plastic cover totally onto the consumer. The bags were always flashy and it still is, they were always of the same size and it still is. So the Corporation’s green rule has become good for the stores, they rake in additional money.

We pay and use the plastic, but its for a Green cause !

UnChartered Territory - Don Moen