With the date for the proposed ban on single-use plastics a day away, the growing focus now is on alternatives.
Edible cutlery, paper straws and jute bags instead of plastic covers, and dried lotus leaves instead of plastic plates are some of the options that the Tamil Nadu government has been encouraging as an alternative.
In a bid to provide information as well as offer sustainable solutions, a group of residents from the city, who want to take a positive and proactive approach, have come together to start www.chennaiagainstplastics
.com . “There are so many small groups and businesses working on alternatives that we thought they can be given a platform. Through the portal, we will be providing information about the rules pertaining to the ban as well as a list of vendors who can be reached for alternatives,” explained Chitra Krishnan, a retired academician who is part of the initiative.
The recently launched website seeks to primarily provide alternatives to not just single-use plastic, but also plastics across various categories as well as offer sustainable solutions. This, the team says, will be updated. In addition, they will also be working on providing resources about waste management and water management. Once the ban comes into effect, the website will also have a blog that will chronicle the efforts taken by individuals or small businesses to effectively adapt to the alternatives available.
“At this stage, the mindset needs to change among people and it should be a conscious choice to reach out for an alternative to plastics. We are further planning to reach out to schools as well so that students can be made aware,” Ms. Krishnan added.
Shifting slowly
A few larger businesses in the city have begun to slowly shift to alternative solutions.
However, many small vendors remain unclear about what to offer as replacement or where to source alternatives that are not expensive.
A. Rani, a fruit vendor in Abhiramapuram, said, “Where do we go? There are people who still ask us for carry bags and we are wondering where to go and get a replacement.”
