AS production of plastic increases in Myanmar, the waste it creates is causing concerns about environmental pollution, an official said last week.

“Tons of polymers are used each month as a raw material for producing plastic bags in Yangon Division,” said the official with the Pollution Control and Cleaning Department of Yangon City Development Committee.

“But this can’t be said as a development in our industry because worldwide other countries have taken serious action against using imperishable plastic,” he said.

Daw Yin Yin Lay, joint secretary of the National Commission for Environmental Affairs, said people use plastic bags because they are readily available and convenient for carrying goods.

There is another side to this convenience, Daw Yin Yin Lay said. “If they can get plastic easily, they discard it the same way.”

She also said that dealing with plastic waste is a challenge in developing countries.

“Plastic pollution can be generally seen in those countries which do not have efficient garbage disposal systems,” she said.

The YCDC official agreed, saying that conventional open dumping systems are not appropriate for plastic waste. “While other wastes decay and become humus in open dumping, plastic waste remains spoiling the environment,” he said.

Burning is an option but has negative side effects, he said. “Dioxin gas which is produced from burning plastic can spread widely into the atmosphere causing respiratory hazards.”

Pollution from plastic waste affects not only the land and air, but also waterways and seas. Daw Yin Yin Lay said because plastic takes a long time to break down, it can harm sea life. “Sometimes small islands of plastic waste can be seen floating in the ocean.”

Since 1999, the Pollution Control and Cleaning Department has been piloting a recycling project, which turns plastic waste into containers.

“The recycling system could be more efficient but we are making the best of it,” the YCDC official said. He added that some kinds of plastic wastes cannot be recycled, such as coloured plastic bags.

Another official at the Pollution Control and Cleaning Department said greater community awareness is needed to deal with plastic waste. “We can’t handle this on our own; we need the cooperation of the public,” he said.

Daw Yin Yin Lay agrees, saying that pollution will be reduced if the public becomes aware of the issue and takes action to limit the use of plastic. Fines will encourage people to properly dispose of plastic waste, she said.

Daw Yin Yin Lay said that some countries have tackled plastic pollution by controlling demand and supply. “The plastic industries are given the responsibility of managing plastic waste or they are shut down.”

She hoped that once people become disciplined and efficient facilities are provided for garbage collection and waste management, pollution caused by plastic will no longer be a problem. “A good quality of life depends on a clean environment,” she said.