Challenges in the management of single-use plastic carrier bags in Aligarh City: A study on sellers and consumer attitude Md. Mainul Sk. Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, AMU, Aligarh Online published on 7 October, 2019. Abstract Unprecedented growth of urbanisation, population and changing behaviour of consumption and lifestyle of men in urban area generate gigantic amount of non-eco-friendly plastic carry bags which littering in every corner of cities in India. The present study aims to find out the hidden problems of banning single-use plastics among sellers and customers in Aligarh city and to figure out the environmental and health problems associated with present plastic carry bags disposal in the study area. This paper is based on primary source of data. A survey was conducted to collect the data from 210 respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire in four major marketing places in Aligarh city. The results found that majority of the respondents (136, 90.67%) reported there was high increasing trend of single use plastic carrier bags utilization which were non-eco-friendly. Widespread uses of plastic carrier bags were attributed by many factors like free of charge (121, 88.97%), light weight (125, 91.91%), suitable for carrying (117, 86.02%), durability (91, 66.91%) and lack of alternatives (39, 28.68%). The study revealed that majority of the respondents/customers (103, 68.67%) discarded directly plastic carrier bags after taking out the groceries while 31.33% respondents kept these bags for secondary use purposes. The common methods of disposal of plastic bags were open dumping (104, 69.33%) and open burning (61, 40.66%) respectively, burying (32, 21.33%) respectively. The findings state that majority of the respondents claimed the blockage of sewage liners, human health problems, animal health and environmental deterioration which was associated with the practice of plastic carrier bags disposal. The results also indicate that though the respondents claimed many environmental and health related issues associated with the plastic carrier bags usages, only 38.67% respondents (customers) and 11.67% retailers/shopkeepers opined the discontinuation of plastic carrier bags uses. The attitudes and behaviour of the respondents and lack of strict government‘s policies were the hidden problems of banning plastic carrier bags use in the city. Top Keywords Plastic waste, Single-use plastic carrier bags, Sellers and Consumers‘ attitude, Environmental and Health problems. Top |