THIS is with reference to the article ‘Costs of plastic packaging’ (Aug 9). Such articles are published often in the media, but no one presents a workable solution to combat the menace of plastic shopping bags. I wish to present one.

There are various kinds of plastics, and all are soluble in their specific solvents. Those manufacturing shopping bags should mention the type of plastic used in them and its specific solvent so that the plastic bags collected from garbage can be separated from organic waste and then sent to their respective dissolution chambers.

Plastics are basically polymers. The dissolution process converts the polymer back into individual chemicals, making it liquid that can easily flow through the drain like water.

It is the responsibility of those managing solid waste to guide waste-collectors and provide them separate bins for plastic bags.

Dr M. Qudrat-e-Khuda
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2026