New Delhi, July 8 - Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh Wednesday said the government would pursue a policy of encouraging bio-degradable plastic and argued that banning polythene bags was no solution.

'It is the failure of the solid waste management by (the) local bodies that is forcing the state governments to ban the use of plastic bags,' Jairam Ramesh, who holds independent charge of environment ministry, said in parliament.

He said the problem was not plastic bags, but the use of recycled plastic and the material made using colouring material.

Speaking during question hour in the Lok Sabha, he said bio-degradable plastic 'is an expensive proposition and is in a nascent stage' but added that the government would pursue a policy of encouraging it.