ELIMINATION OF SINGLE -USE PLASTIC
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC?
“It’s only one bag,” said 7.8 billion people. The production of the disposable products that are made of plastics and are meant only for one time use are increasing in millions. This includes plastic bags, bottles, wrappers of food, cups, toothbrushes, beverage bottles, bottle caps, plastic straws, sachet packets, coffee stirrers, etc. which are all made of plastic. It is impossible or very hard to be recycled so, we have to throw them away. Some items such as disposable gloves and syringes that are made out of plastics have no other option other than being thrown away for health and hygiene reasons. Billions of objects that are manufactured used for a few minutes, and end up with us for centuries.
BAN SINGLE USE PLASTIC
Environment is being threatened by the number of disposable non-biodegradable products we use so; we have to find an alternate for every item. It’s necessary to bring the change for a whole world as everyone’s effort matters. Approximately it takes 450 years to decompose plastic products. When thrown away they don’t stay the same, it breaks down into micro plastics physically with no change in chemical composition. Only 1–13% of the plastics are being recycled, the rest is a major concern for our environment that is buried plastics which is very hard to detect. This is why the vegetables we eat also have a lot of plastic content in them. The micro plastics are often consumed by animals that cause punctures organs or intestinal blockages that are fatal to them. The plastic wastes which we through eventually end up in the oceans too thus affecting marine life as well.
ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC:
The greatest ecologically friendly invention is the one we do not own. We can replace the polythene bags with our home-grown cotton and jute bags which can be recycled and decomposed. We can take our water bottles and just fill the water in certain places like in railway stations in India, there is zero-b water filling stations where we can fill water in our water bottles when we need which is cheaper than a bottle of water itself. Plastic straws are nowadays being replaced by paper straw or glass or stainless steel or even silicon straws. Plastic free innovative ideas can be used for food wrappers. We can opt to buy larger versions of products rather than sachet as it is less damaging to the environment.
THINK GREEN:
To take serious steps, we can switch to bamboo toothbrush from plastic tooth brushes. Taking our water bottles and shopping bags when we go out saves us money as well. We can buy things from a whole sale zero waste shop. Some products seem to be expensive, but when brought at large quantities we can save money. Body wash can be replaced with unpacked bathing bars which come at similar or less price and last longer. Sanitary pads have a major part in the disposables, so they can be replaced with menstrual cups made of silicon that lasts for more than ten years and saves a lot of money. Gift wrappers can be replaced by newspapers and ribbons with jute threads.
EFFORTS TAKEN IN INDIA
Plastic cutleries such as spoons and forks are now replaced by wooden alternatives. Only cloth bag or paper bags are given at a minimum price in shops after shopping if we do not bring our bags. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan also promotes the ban on single use plastic completely launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a very thoughtful step that is taken seriously at least by few citizens. Clean India makes Green India. Chennai corporation introduced a solid waste tax depending on the size of the house every month, and penalty for any activity that causes pollution.
CONCLUSION:
There are zones in our ocean that holds plastic as big as the size of India. The largest build-up of ocean plastic in the world is in The Great Pacific Garbage Patch located between Hawaii and California. This can be upturned if every individual living on this planet takes responsibility and put efforts in bringing in a long-term change. To create a change, we have to be the change and inspire others to live the same change. This change can help to bring back life to our evolution creating a revolution by bringing in a solution to cut down the pollution with successful execution. Only a few people are aware and follow zero waste perfectly but we need more number of people practicing zero waste at least imperfectly or partially.