Is it such uphill a task to get rid of plastic waste? Kozhikode was declared free of it. A big step towards an eco-friendly district, the Mass Action for Plastic-Waste-Free Kozhikode (MAP) may be one of the biggest campaigns that Kerala had seen, considering the public participation.
During the month-long campaign, one saw students, workers of self-help groups and those of various organisations toiling day and night to collect plastic waste from every corner. But, just two days after the official declaration, one could find heaps of plastic bags on the roadside.Unquestionably, plastic has become an integral part of our lives . The MAP campaign aimed at discarding plastic waste — those articles that cannot be recycled, such as carry-bags, flex boards, plastic cups and so on. But is it not ideal to discard recyclable products as well, for they too can add to the waste?
But that is an area where a feeling of helplessness prevails. Are there substitutes for such a wide range of plastic products? For the answer, one needs to look back a few decades when plastic was not so popular and most products of daily use were made of eco-friendly materials
Eco-friendly bags
To start with, plastic carry-bags are the biggest pollutants and the alternative is to use cloth or paper bags. They are costlier, but are more durable than thin carry-bags often available in the market. Even the thicker bags provided by textile and other merchant outlets can be replaced by much more durable and eco-friendly cloth bags.
A purse-bag promoted by the Narikkuni-based Minnas Paper and Cloth Products is a blessing to shoppers who hate to carry home loads of plastic waste from the market. The purse-bag is a compact product serving as a purse, but on opening the zipper on the side, it becomes a big carry-bag.
Plastic cups and plates form another big chunk of waste. Consumers should be delighted to know that these can be easily replaced by paper products. Areca-leaf plates and cups will be a big draw if popularised. A number of Kudumbasree units in the district have ventured into manufacture of areca-leaf products, which are cheap and durable.
Bamboo, wood and coconut shells can be used to make a large range of products which are now made of plastic. Uravu from Thrikkaipatta in Wayanad has dusted out age-old lamp shades, ladles, pen stands, candle stands, jute carry-bags, flower vases, dustbins and many other products made of bamboo or wood.
Cotton and jute have been used to make file folders, school, office and vanity bags, purses, mobile-phone pouches and many such articles. Even ornaments such as necklaces, earrings, bangles, hair clips and pens can be made out of these. Mud utensils make a viable alternative for many other plastic products and are popular in many parts of India.
Redundant
That makes most of the plastic that we use unnecessary. However, plastic waste cannot be avoided unless citizens are environmentally conscious. So next time you go shopping, you might just be saving the planet by carrying a cloth bag.
