Be part of the solution, not pollution

Whenever there is a talk of plastic pollution, I cherish the colourful backpack I bought some years ago from New Zealand’s charming hill station, Queenstown. It’s made from 15 waste plastic bottles! But I was oblivious to this fact till I approached the cash counter. I was captivated by its colourful design and an array of pockets. ‘Did you know with the purchase of this bag, you are making a beautiful contribution to the environment?’ the young cashier said, joyfully showing me the description of its making, printed on the back of the bag.

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As I handed him the cash, he offered me a chocolate. ‘As per our store’s policy, chocolates have to be offered to those who shop like you.’ As I stepped out jubilantly, I was reminded of my neighbouring village’s sarpanch and his foolish decision, which he took nearly a decade back, after plastic bags, bottles and other waste were fished out of the drains. ‘Throw them in the rivulet which snakes through the village. It will take everything away,’ he had said.

When such activities go unchecked, water bodies get choked, including oceans, chiefly with plastic. According to aquatic life scientists, sea creatures, mistaking it for food, end up consuming it, leading to the death of several small and large fish. Their bellies are found filled with plastic waste — bags, cups, bottles and even mobile phones.

It is no surprise that fish that have fed on toxic material commonly find their way to our kitchens. What’s more alarming is that ever since the Covid pandemic struck, even medical waste has reached the oceans, making several whales and sharks consume tonnes of face masks and syringes, as per a BBC report.

There are, however, some people who try to find viable solutions. During my US trip, I came across many takeaway coffee shops which offered discounts to customers who turned up with their own cups. A small Japanese town called Kamikatsu recently attained ‘zero waste target’, beginning with the segregation of waste. Interestingly, most ideas for the campaign came from its residents and now other Japanese towns are learning from its example.

Thankfully, our government has imposed a ban on single-use plastic, but to ensure success, the role of citizens is vital. Like many, I recall the old culture of using bags made of cotton, jute and bamboo for shopping. Why not bring it back for our own good, as one of the first steps to help ourselves and the planet? If residents of Kamikatsu can help themselves, why can’t we or people living in other parts of the globe? They became part of the solution instead of pollution, and so can we.