Goa’s glass problem

Goa’s glass problem

Article:

1. Samir Nazareth, author, highlight the key arguments made in favour of the recent proposal to ban beer bottles in Goa.

Important Analysis:

2. The puts three key arguments in this regard:

• Most bottlers do not collect empty bottles.
• Shards of glass injure people at beaches.
• The staff at waste facilities injure themselves

3. The author gave following suggestions to debunk these arguments if Goa is to become garbage free by 2020.

a) For Most bottlers do not collect empty bottles:  To handle this following suggestions are made:

• The government can introduce companies to initiate bottle collection schemes. The government needs to ask companies to include all types of outlets, and consumers in such a scheme.
• A refundable deposit should be levied on the outlets and on the customers to encourage return of bottles.
• The deposit charged on the outlets should be  the same as they charge on customers.

b) Shards of glass injure people at beaches:  To handle this , following suggestions are made.

• If shards of glass are injuring people on the beach, this is a symptom of lack of civic sense and the absence of an effective waste management system. 
• Prevent drinking in the open.
• Need to bring behavioural change and provide better infrastructure to collect waste.
• A proper policing system should be put in place to deter, sensitise and punish people who litter.

c) The staff at waste facilities injure themselves: To handle this, following suggestions are made.

• Workers in waste collection facilities need to be provided gloves for handling waste.