A ban on the manufacture, storage, use and disposal of all "disposable plastics" has been proposed by the government in the place where I live. On the surface, it seems great. Environmental consciousness seems to have caught on, and the plastic mence that is choking Mother Nature has been banned. Good.

Or is it?

Taking a second look at the proposed ban, one sees nothing but a scheme that will make more money for those who will be entrusted with enforcing it. It is disconcerting to see that "disposable plastics" has in no way been defined. It will have to be determined by the enforcing authority on a case to case basis. Which means what is disposable in one case will not be in another.

The State Government has declared that it will continue supplying milk in plastic sachets, which are definitely disposable.

The Pollution Control Board has announced that it will be cracking down on those using plastic pots to store water - the average life of a plastic pot is around one year - but it will be classified under "disposable plastics" by the Board.

All plastic that is used for packaging food and food products have been declared food grade by a Central Government authority that has okayed their use. This authority does not have a stand or a statute on disposability.

As we can see, trouble is already brewing.

Mother Nature, long before she is choked to death by pollution, will be garrotted by red tape.