On Sunday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to chalk out guidelines for the proper disposal of cigarette and bidi butts, within the next three months. The National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) welcomed this move.
Move undertaken by the NGT regarded as “pathbreaking”
Just last week, after a report was documented by the CPCB related to pollution caused by unscientific disposal of cigarette and bidi ends, the NGT body had instructed the Board to list out guidelines for scientific disposal of such a waste. They’ve been given a time period of three months. The cigarette and bidi butts are hailed as toxic for the environment as they’re known to be made up of cellulose acetate, which is a form of plastic in the filter, used to funnel out the toxins before the smoke hits the lungs.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Goa-based oncologist Shekhar Salkar, who is the Secretary of the Anti-Tobacco Organization, mentioned that this move undertaken by the NGT was “pathbreaking”. He also included that this step is in sync with healthy and sustainable environment practices.
“It’s one of the path-breaking steps taken by the NGT to have a healthy and sustainable environment for posterity. It has also been seen, how these tobacco in take is not only affecting the health of millions across the world, but also the cigarette and bidi butts are making our forests and water-bodies polluted,” Salkar was quoted saying. He further added, “We feel government should also take cognizance of the various tobacco companies and impose cess on them to reimburse the expense of disposing off these hazardous cigarette and bidi butts.”
Knock Knock
In an attempt to make our future better and greener, this step is truly a much-welcomed one! Our environment should be our top priority and hopefully, the upcoming guidelines will bring some relief to the heavy waste quantities.
