Justifying its decision to ban plastic goods including the one-time-use carry bags, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that plastic waste is a serious environmental hazard which affects the health of human beings and animals. The government, on March 23, imposed a ban on "manufacture, sale, use, distribution and storage" of several plastic goods and materials including polythene bags, plastic plates, cups, spoons and forks, thermocol and PET bottles. It submitted its reply today to four petitions filed by associations of plastic manufacturers and retailers challenging the ban.