There is no doubt that the editorial (TMID 24 January) gave a very fair and balanced commentary on the introduction of the eco-contribution on plastic carrier-bags.

It criticises the ham-fisted manner by which this badly needed legislation was introduced, without due warning to either the general public or the industry itself.

This editorial, apart from its informative value in explaining that this legislation was necessary and why, also contributed to the debate with sensible alternatives to the reckless use of some 52 million plastic bags annually in our island.

The only thing that seems to have escaped the editor’s attention is the absence of a Standards Authority to regulate conformity. It seems that currently anybody can import plastic bags with the magic word “degradable” printed on them and sell them on the local market, with little difficulty.

We seem to be overlooking the degree and method of degradation and their suitability for composting. It is a known fact that some so called degradable plastics leave traces, which when ingested by farm animals can pass on harmful dioxins to humans.

The unease surrounding degradable plastics is not new. More than 10 years ago, bags made from a blend of starch and polyethylene were introduced into the market. The problem was that while these broke apart in a composting environment, they were not completely converted to carbon dioxide and water.

Later, a new generation of carrier-bags, using biodegradable polymers, was introduced. The resins used to make the degradable bags fell into two broad categories – natural and synthetic. Natural, or biopolymers, were made from renewable resources. Synthetic polymers were made from biodegradable petroleum-based foodstuffs and included polyester and polyethylene polymers. At that time, most bio-degradable plastic bags were made from a blend of natural and

synthetic polymers. The synthetic components were necessary to give the bag the properties to perform like a bag.

I have my doubts as to what

standards are being applied locally, if any, to determine the quality and suitability for the safe composting of the currently available degradable carrier-bags and other plastic bags.

The government must provide the wherewithal, to the Malta Standards Authority, to formulate the minimum requirements to which bags that carry the title of “degradable” must conform.

In the absence of plastic bags carrying a satisfactory conformity certificate at an affordable price, we may indeed find that the old paper bags, grease-proof paper, cardboard egg containers, wicker baskets and cloth bags will be the practical solution to this particular environmental problem.

Mrs MD Spiteri

Qawra