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List of Plastic items getting banned and their easy alternatives
Posted on: 22/Dec/2018 10:09:38 AM
According to an announcement made on 5th June 2018 by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, specific kinds of use and throw plastics will be banned starting from 1st January 2019. Here is a quick list of these specific types that are getting banned:
- Carry bags in plastic
- Plastic sheets
- Plates made of plastics
- Tea cups or tumblers coated with plastic
- Plastic straws
- Plastic flats
- Water pouches made of plastic covers
Importantly, this ban is being imposed regardless of the thickness of the plastic.
A notification in this regard got published in the Tamil Nadu Gazette dated 25th June 2018 by the Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu.
So let’s dive into a detailed study as to the types of plastic products that are encompassed under the ban, and some practical, eco-friendly alternatives to cope with the ban.
Plastic sheets used for packing foods
Visit a nearby hotel and order your favorite Idli and Sambar, and you will be told to wait, and the man would grab a sheet of newspaper and toss a sheet of plastic over it and start placing those spongy idlis! With those hot Idlis you take home and imbibe on, you are also gulping down grams of plastics down to your intestine. Hey wait, this cannot be the case anymore.
What is the alternative?
- Aluminum foils
- Areca nut plates
- Plantain leaves
These could you your alternative. These are bio-degradable and hence do not affect the environment.
Plastic sheets used for dining in marriage halls and events
There are bunch of workers to clean up and clear up the dining table and quickly roll out the white, wide plastic sheet. And there is one person following next to place the banana leaves to start serving food. Such a welcoming sign is that, but it is not so for the environment. Those plastic sheet rolls used to serve food to you is a threat to our mother nature.
Stop that and alternatively go for paper rolls. They are not just a mere alternative, but a convenient choice in terms of being absorbent. If there is a water spill or food spill, it can easily absorb the liquid and doesn’t leave the place messy.
Plastic Thermocol plates or plastic coated paper plates.
You might have experienced discomfort in handling the flexible, thermocol plates when you grab a buffet for your friend’s party. They come with multiple trays to serve the main course, side dish, soup, gravy and others. It is a convenient option for parties, meetings, book fair, etc. where there is more eating population.
And there are paper plates that get distributed often in birthday parties. They extend the convenience of placing a cake, savoury and more handle it single handed!
These can be easily replaced with lotus leaves or Patravali. They are easy to handle and also safe for the environment. They are also available at nominal price ranges.
Plastic coated paper cups, or plastic tea cups, plastic tumblers and thermocol cups
These are largely in cicirculation in our day to day living. We see these paper cups in almost all the tea kiosks dotted across the state everywhere. Not just there, the cups get used at corporates and offices to serve beverages for the employees. It is inescapable to alarm you regarding its harmful effects which is because of the wax coating that is given at its inner side to resist its absorbency.
There are plastic tumblers and plastic glasses served in tea stalls, fruit juice shops, and for packing milk shakes or ice creams. There are thermocol cups used to serve welcome drinks or Prasadam at temples. Uh, the usage of plastic cups and glasses is endless.
Let us stop it at least now. Go for glass tumblers which are reusable and hence economical. Or, you have metal glasses that are way safer to use and handle too. The part of washing becomes easy and handling the glass is simple too. And there are bamboo cups and mugs and wooden options too. They are not just convenient to use, but quirky in look as well.
Water packets
These have been in use since ages. It is a quick way to quench your thirst. Give a rupee or two and you will be offered with a pack of chilled water. That’s a blunder you are doing to yourself. The water stored in such packets are unhealthy to the consumer, and the packets you throw onto the ground after drinking is unhealthy to the environment.
An alternative to these plastic pouches could be Thanneer Pandhal where a pot full of fresh drinking water is stored along with a glass to consume. Whoever has a need can go, have the water for free and place the tumbler back there. It is also an act of humanity where you give water for free rather than charging him money.
Plastic straws
There are lovely paper straws available as a brilliant alternative to plastic straws. Henceforth, you cannot get those colorful, harmful plastic straws when you want to grab a tender coconut water under the hot sun or a fresh glass of sugarcane juice at the road side. Things are getting changed as the plastic ban is nearing. Soon, paper straws will be used. These are even attractive to look at and they come in many different designs.
Plastic carry bags – with or without handle, and plastic coated bags
How many times do you hit the nearby departmental stores for your monthly cooking needs? Every time, you pay him extra sum of Rs 10 to grab the thick, large plastic carry bag, and you are still not worried about the slow earth killer! Stop that and start using reusable jute bags or cloth bags. If the items you are to carry is weight less, you may also opt for paper bags. There is only one thing you ought to do – remember to take your reusable bag every time you visit the store. And you know what? There is no other option for you than to take the bag, because plastic covers are no more going to be available for you at the stores starting from this New Year.
Plastic flags
We see plastic flags being raised on the day of Independence. This should not be the case anymore, as we easily have cloth flags available in stores. Go for the latter and save mother earth.
Above mentioned are some of the most common use of plastics and easy eco-f-friendly alternatives for the same. Keep these in mind from the upcoming year and show your support for the initiative taken by the Tamil Nadu government.
