Abstract

In order to tackle the problem of plastic waste, which is an integral part of the WBPCB’s drive for a cleaner West Bengal, the Board has been engaged in finding viable substitutes to plastic carry bags which have been posing a major environmental problem in the state. In the light of environmental and health risks, it is desirable to reduce the quantum of plastic waste generated, by minimizing the use of plastic carry bags, reusing them in our daily lives and most importantly, by using carry bags made of biodegradable materials. In order to promote the latter, the WBPCB is organising workshops to provide technical training to the individuals and organisations interested to take up projects on the manufacture of carry bags made of eco-friendly materials like paper, grass, cloth and jute. This would encourage the use of non-plastic carry bags and help to reduce plastic waste considerably. The first workshop was organised at Paribesh Bhawan, Salt Lake City on August 30, 2003. The second workshop, which was organised for a separate set of organisations/individuals, was held at the Camac Street Regional Office of the WBPCB on November 28, 2003. About 48-odd participants took part in the training sessions of the workshop, which were conducted by trainers of various NGOs.

Objectives

• To promote the use of carry bags made of biodegradable materials;
• To impart the knowledge of manufacturing eco-friendly carry bags to the concerned organisations and individuals;
• To bring the "actors" together so that they could utilise their knowledge to undertake small projects for manufacturing eco-friendly carry bags that could be used in the shops and markets of the state;
• To help generate employment for the weaker sections of the society i.e., poor women, disabled children etc.; and,
• To achieve the overall target of reducing plastic waste in the state.

Participants

As listed below, the participants of the workshop were primarily the representatives from the following organisations like destitute homes and schools for special children.

• Mahila Seva Samity
• Women’s’ Coordinating Council
• All India Women’s Conference
• Rotary Club
• Biswa Manab Seva
• Pashchim Banga Vigyan Mancha
• Concern for Calcutta
• Women’s Interlink Foundation
• Jana Shikshan Foundation, Haldia
• Children’s Welfare Association
• Karma Kuthir
• Asha Niketan
• Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust
• Anandan

Key Features

• Demonstration of manufacture of paper carry bags by Shri William Borneo and Shri Ashutosh Roy of Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy
• Demonstration of paper carry bags by Shri Arunendu Banerjee/Smt Sudeshna Banerjee, STS Systems
• Discussion on how banks can finance projects by Shri Tushar Das of Allahabad Bank and Dr Debasish Maiti of Corporation Bank
• Demonstration of manufacture of cloth/grass carry bags by Smt Sharmishtha Basu, Cheshta

Feedback

• The participants learnt the methods of manufacturing the eco-friendly bags with huge enthusiasm.
• The participants opined that they found the workshop to be of great help. They found the discussions on aspects such as funding of the projects and marketing of the products to be very useful.
• The participants felt that more emphasis should be given on the marketing of the products and sought the help of the WBPCB in this regard.
• The participants promised to use their knowledge and take up projects either individually or in association with other organisations on a sustained basis.

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