A week long anti-polythene campaign yielded enough plastic to tar a stretch of 138 kilometers in the north Indian state

The Public Works Department of Himachal Pradesh has started constructing roads with plastic and polythene waste/ Photo credit: Tripcrazed

of Himachal Pradesh. Pilots indicate that these roads are cost effective and durable. During the weeklong ‘Polythene Hatao, Paryavaran Bachao (remove polythene, save environment)’ campaign carried out across the state in December, about 1,381 quintals of waste was collected, a government spokesperson said.

“The entire plastic waste (1,381 quintals) would be used for laying plastic-bitumen mix roads in the state. This waste would be sufficient to tar a stretch of 138 km,” the spokesperson said.

The waste plastic such as carry bags, disposable cups and laminated plastics like pouches of chips, pan masala, aluminium foil and packaging material used for biscuits, chocolates, and milk and grocery items was used in surfacing roads.

It is said that the plastic blend not only helps lowering the cost of tarring but also enhances the durability of roads because of higher binding strength of plastic. It is also said that if plastic waste could be mixed up to 15%, this would lead to saving of equivalent quantity of asphalt, reducing the overall construction cost.“The plastic waste replaces 10% to 15% of the bitumen and thus saves approximately Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000 per km of a road stretch,” PWD superintending engineer Naresh Sharma said.

Himachal Pradesh imposed on October 2, 2009, a ban on the production, storage, use, sale and distribution of all types of polythene bags made of non-biodegradable materials. The government is also planning to include all plastic materials like disposable plates, cups and glasses in the ambit of the ban.

The ban on use of coloured polythene bags manufactured from recycled plastic was initially imposed on January 1, 1999. Later in 2004, the ban was imposed under Section 7(h) of the State Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Rules on the use of small polythene bags having thickness less than 70 microns and size less than 18”x12”. But last year a total ban was imposed on the use of polythene bags of all types and sizes.

“Though there is a complete ban on the use of polythene in the state, still a large number of used polybags are lying scattered here and there. Our effort now is to totally remove them so that its effect on nature could be minimised as much as possible,” Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said.

But there is a BIG WHAT (?) What about the pollution caused by burning of those huge heaps of polythene bags dumped in various parts of state to mix them with the materials for road construction? Or are we JUST HAPPY about the amazing roads constructed using the problematic plastics???

[Source: Different web portals]

Goris Mustaqim, 26 years old Indonesian Climate Champion, is one among the only few youths in the world who has taken an exceptional step to address the climate change issue from his own level. Graduated in 2006 from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the most prestigious university in Indonesia, majoring in Civil Engineering, Goris founded Asgar Muda Foundation, Garut Youth Organization, whose vision is to develop character and contribution of youth for prosperity of citizens.

I am very happy that I got a chance to take an e-interview of this outstanding fellow.

Excerpts from an interview with Goris:

What led you to start ASGAR MUDA foundation and what have you done so far?

I truly believe that Indonesia’s future is in the hands of youth. I wanted to create a success story that would inspire all youths and thus founded Asgar Muda foundation. We have several programs related to climate change issues, particularly in green energy area. We try to solve economic problems using social approach and innovation. Our first project was Microhidro for electrification in rural areas in Garut. It was collaboration of Asgar Muda and Electrical Engineering Students’ Union of ITB and Chevron. It has already been implemented in May 2009 in Cihurip, Garut. We use hydro power potentials in rural area to produce electricity up to 2500 watt.

What is your project of substituting energy from fossil fuel with geothermal energy? Where are you making its application currently?

An ongoing project is direct use of geothermal energy for Akarwangi distillation in Garut. Akarwangi (Vetiver) is one of Garut’s comparative advantage. This plant can only grow well in limited places, such as Garut and Haiti. Akarwangi is a source of essentials oil. Since 2005, Akarwangi business has been facing serious problem of oil scarcity and the rise of fossil fuels’ price. Indonesian Government has issued a policy to convert kerosene oil to LPG. If nothing is done to find alternate energy sources, we will see enormous number of people relying on this business lose jobs in the coming years. So, this project is aimed to substitute energy for distillation from kerosene to Geothermal. Use of this renewable and clean energy will bring huge benefit mainly in social, economic, and of course environmental aspect.

Is the government or local authority supporting your project?

We are collaborating with Ministry of Industry of Indonesian Government, but no local government. We also cooperate with state owned company CSR.

Indonesia is already a significant emitter of greenhouse gases due to deforestation and land-use change. It is also a serious coal producer and user in the region. As a youth environment activist, what do you think should be the government policy to address this issue? What is the present government policy of mitigation and adaptation?

The action of government must be consistent with what it has already stated. The government has set an ambitious target to reduce 26% carbon emission by the end of 2020 with own budget, and possibly up to 41% with international funding. It means we must focus on stopping deforestation and prioritize wetland control. We have to control land use change. Law enforcement must be the top priority. We also need land conservation mechanisms with community development scheme so that it could involve local citizens. Government must invite all stakeholders to work collaboratively instead of working alone.

Government should quickly build geothermal and hydro power plants and gradually stop those based on coal. It should bring a policy to give more incentive to industries using renewable energy.

Forest fires have made Indonesia one of the world’s worst polluters. How is the government controlling it? Or is the government doing nothing?

I am sorry that I don’t know the detail. But what I have heard is- the process of monitoring and coordination is being strengthened by joint action of Indonesian government and local government.

With 17,000 islands and a biodiversity second only to Brazil, Indonesia stands to lose a great deal from rising sea levels and changing climate. Are the general people aware enough about climate change? What kinds of awareness raising campaigns are the Indonesian youths running?

Not really. Farmers and fishermen are already suffering from effects of climate change, but they don’t know what’s going on. We seriously lack mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Many campaigns are being conducted by youths to promote more environment friendly lifestyle, sustainable use of energy, concept of reuse-reduce-recycle, etc. But more action is needed in grassroot level so that we can transform awareness and knowledge into an action.

What was the Indonesian youths’ stand in the COP15? How do you feel after COP15?

I went to Copenhagen as British Council’s climate champion. We, the youths of Indonesia, have already taken initiative in communities to tackle climate challenge. That’s, our strategic role.

We went to Copenhagen with great enthusiasm that we could bring Bali Mandate into action and hoped there could be a new deal- totally binding, fair and ambitious, supporting global action on global warming. But you know what happened

Indonesian youths raised awareness about Climate Change (CC) by writing in prestigious national newspapers, blogs, facebook, and twitter. Many responds and questions still come to my inbox and page. In  COP15, we also tried to intervene  between the plenary sessions to pressurize the leaders. But, we couldn’t do so.

Though COP15 became a failure, we shouldn’t become frustrated. We must take a stand that no decision can be made without us. It is true that climate change can’t be solved just in 5-10 years or in one generation. So we need sustainability on agreement & policy, as well as sustainability on action. Please, remember that young people are leaders of tomorrow. So, we have to know what all governments and world leaders are doing now and we must be made part of every decision they take.

How do you analyze Rachmat Witoelar (head of the Indonesian delegation to the Copenhagen meeting)’s blame for the failure of COP15 on the host country, Denmark? Was it that Indonesian delegation couldn’t do anything in the COP15?

Before COP 15, we involved in several pre-departure activities. We had met Head of Climate Change National Council, Mr. Rachmat Witoelar and Minister of Environment of Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Gusti Muhammad Hatta and discussed a lot about what we could do. In Copenhagen too, we frequently had meeting with national delegation. We followed the progress on negotiation.

What I personally think is Indonesian delegations were weak at the summit. They were supposed to be more influencing and bridge developing nations’ aspiration with developed nations’.  But regarding Rachmat, I know him well. I know he tried his best, just like in Bali 2007. I am not here in a state to comment on his blame towards Denmark.

I came to know that you have special interest in green business. What kind of scope have you seen of Green Business in Indonesia and what are you planning for it?

I’ve described above that we already implemented microhidro project & geothermal project is in progress. These are the green innovations which can form an integral part of economy in near future.

I am a businessman and I have a plan to start business on renewable energy with social enterprise scheme. I have plan to effectively use solar energy because Indonesia is tropical country and we have abundant potential in this regard. So I’m looking forward to the global investors .I believe that green business is the future of global economy .I believe that if we treat environment well, it will treat us the same. We can make money from it,still preserving it.

What do you want to say to the rest of youths across the globe who are fighting hard to resolve major environmental crisis?

As I said continuously, we need more action now. Those passionate must transform their passion into real action. Don’t be trapped by COP euphoria. We must keep balls rolling. We STILL have the power to save the world. Keep up the good work!! Best of luck!!