The bag had a logo on it “I CARE FOR MY CITY- I SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS!”

…..a civic friendly initiative from CMCA.

I was very happy to learn that schools were taking keen interest in promoting reusable bags. And the CMCA is promoting reusable bags in order to replace plastic bags

Looks like the plastic bags usage will reduce to a large extent.

Children are taught by teachers to avoid using plastic bags and children in turn educate their parents and neighbours.

Well, the younger generation has taken a big leap in replacing the ubiquitous plastic cover with cotton bags.

Last week I had been for the Parents teacher meeting where I saw secondary grade students convincing parents to buy reusable bags which they were selling. Again a CMCA drive…

I was extremely happy and in order to boost the sales I purchased eight bags. Very colourful in shades of green, blue, purple and yellow… The bags can be folded and kept in a handbag or a purse. Very trendy and low priced too! (just Rs. 15/- per bag)

The students were very enthusiastic about explaining to the parents ‘why not to use plastic bags’ and ‘how reusable bags can be eco-friendly and convenient’

So the task of saving the environment now lies on the tiny shoulders of the school going children. They understand, adopt and preach ‘Say no to plastic’ and ‘Use cotton/reusable bags instead of plastic bags.’

Keep it up dear children! Three cheers to CMCA for their ‘Say no to plastic’ drive…

Well, that was good. I observed many customers complaining but eventually paying up for the bags.

But the point was that when rules are implemented, people follow the rules.

So that is all that needs to be done. Implement strict rules. Though I am happy that the major supermarkets have started charging for carry bags, the small grocery shops still give away covers freely.

Even the roadside vendors and the ones who sell wares on push carts carry with them thin plastic covers in which they give away the goods.

These covers cannot be reused, are free for the customers and cause harm to the environment…

Customers must stop taking these covers. But somehow that seems like a far cry.

Some rule on manufacture of these flimsy plastic covers must be implemented immediately…

It is an excellent step. Though people spend thousands of rupees on shopping they dislike dishing out Rs. 3 or Rs. 5 for a plastic carry bag.

But this dislike will prove very good for the environment as people will soon make the habit of carrying their own bags when shopping.

And another aspect to this ‘charge for carry bags’ is that people will not throw away the bags. They will go home and fold it neatly and stack it away for future use. So that is that many bags reused!

Great going and cheers to all the major stores for taking this step!

Hopefully all the stores will soon follow suit and very soon customers will be either carrying their own bags or paying for each carry bag they take from the store…

Percentage of educated people in India is low. So awareness about global warming, harmful effects of plastic bags etc is lacking. The educated know about it but are not sure what exactly needs to be done. Even in schools not much is spoken about the harm that plastic covers cause to the environment.

So I guess it is a longer walk for me now as compared to Dubai where awareness campaigns had taken off well and most people knew that the plastic cover ban was inevitable.

In Bengaluru, schools need to start awareness campaigns like ‘Say no to plastic bags’ and soon the younger generation is bound to influence the adults. Somehow I feel people have accepted the environmental issues and are not actually very keen to go ahead and solve it or do something about it. I cannot say this for all the people as surely there might be a small group of people trying their best to think of solutions to create awareness and avert problems to the environment.

The best way to spread awareness in this city is through the radio stations. I have observed that most people listen to the FM channel. I will trying writing to the local newspapers about the issue and hopefully they will join in to help save the environment.

Have to think out more ways to spread awareness…

Any suggestions???

Though I was busy setting up my new home here in Bengaluru, I was observing the use of plastic everywhere around me.

After my long stay in Dubai, when I stepped into this beautiful garden city, I was shocked to see plastic covers lying around everywhere. Garbage collection is an issue and people tend to throw garbage bags in open sites, under a tree or just about any empty place they see.

In fact, just near my house there is a place near a tree where people throw garbage. After a while dogs, crows, cows and flies are seen around the place. The animals tear the plastic bags and eat whatever they can from the garbage. How much of the plastic goes into their stomachs, is something I don’t know.

The Bengaluru Municipality is completely against providing dustbins as they feel it spoils the look of the city and also attracts flies and mosquitoes. Which is actually correct. But what about the fact that because of the lack of dustbins people throw rubbish on the streets and make the city even more dirty.

Every shop I go to gives away thin flimsy plastic bags. Supermarkets are giving good sturdy plastic bags which can be reused. But the grocery shops and vegetable vendors give the purchases in thin plastic covers.

I carry my reusable bags but most of the people do not. And well, I guess I need to continue my war against plastic bags even here.

How I am going to do it, is something I have not decided on. But the war is on and that is one thing I am sure about.

Let us see…

I will keep posting all my experiences related to the ubiquitous plastic bags…

Plastic bags everywhere...

There are degradable bags available in the market now. People need to know about it. As I had mentioned in my last post even garbage bags which are bio-degradable are available.

But sadly I still see those flimsy colourful plastic bags everywhere around- in supermarkets, grocery stores…

These thin bags which do not degrade in the environment for years and years and are the cause of death of so many camels…

And when these bags are disposed on the beaches and you can see these bags floating in the sea, you can imagine how much harm it will cause to the marine life.

I have seen beautiful cloth bags which can be neatly folded and carried in your purse available at Carrefour. But I hardly see any customer picking it up.

Why is it so difficult for people to opt for reusable bags??? When we cluck cluck cluck and cluck away when we read of Global warming and its effects, are we even once thinking of doing one single thing to save the environment??

It is not only about plastic bags. There are so many changes we all need to make to save and protect our environment.

If we destroy the environment -

slowly the environment will have very little left to give back to us.

It is for us to be more practical and behave lovingly towards ‘mother nature’ who gives us unconditionally…and which we have taken for granted…

But for how long? We all need to sit back and think…

One thought!

Is it so difficult?

This time when I was shopping at the Carrefour Supermarket, Sharjah I remembered that I had to buy garbage covers. I went to the section and picked up those ubiquitous pack of black coloured garbage bags. As I was checking the size of the bag on the packet, I happened to notice some packets with lavender and lemon coloured bags. Were they garbage bags??

I immediately kept the black garbage covers aside and picked up the coloured ones. And I was surprised to read that these colourful garbage bags were degradable and scented too!

Now my hubby dear was wondering what was taking me so much time. I had to just pick up a pack of garbage covers. When he came along to ask  me what it was that I was analysing, I showed him the scented, colourful garbage covers.

“Now why do we need scented covers for lining the garbage bins?”

I knew he would say that. But I ignored his question and showed him the words “Degradable bags” printed on the pack.

“Oh! That is good.”

Well, I just picked up a pack of lavender scented degradable garbage covers. Now if we avoid plastic covers at the supermarket and use these degradable covers for lining the waste bin, wouldn’t the environment be benefitted tremendously?

So I truly hope that many many people read this blog post and look for the degradable garbage covers easily available at a reasonable price at Carrefour Supermarkets and probably other major supermarkets too.

Well, I am sure glad to line the waste bin in my house with colourful and scented degradable plastic bags…

I have noticed that people eventually accept your decision. Now most supermarkets I visit give away purchases in plastic bags. But the salesmen at the counter or the cashier in these supermarkets now know that I will not accept a plastic bag. They have all accepted my decision “say no to plastic” It is truly just a matter of time. I just wish many more people follow this trend and reduce the use of plastic bags.

Children in school are aware of the hazards of plastic to the environment and generally refuse to carry plastic bags. I have seen school children carrying their extra books, folder, project work etc in either jute or paper bags. I am happy that at least the coming generation is more informed and aware. That still would not mean that the previous generation could actually go out and spoil the environment for the next generation.

Just like we keep our house clean we need to keep the environment which is our true and real house cleaner. We keep our house clean because we like it that way.

What about our dear mother earth? Is it not our responsibility to keep her clean and tidy? Littering is wrong and especially so if it is some items like plastic bags which never degrade in the environment and cause unimaginable harm.

Just carry a bag the next time you visit a supermarket. Think twice before taking a plastic bag from the counter. Dispose the bag in the right manner.

Small thoughts, small steps and small actions could make a big difference!

Every time I used to forget to carry my jute bag or when I over shopped and had to take a couple of plastic bags from the supermarket I used to feel guilty. Now at least at Choithram I can easily afford to take the degradable bags to take away my purchases.

I was just hoping that all the supermarkets would follow suit. When bags degrade, it would mean plastic waste would not prevail in the environment for years and years.

Yet I feel that we all need to reduce the use of plastic bags whether they are degradable or not. Also appropriate disposal of the same is a must. ‘Coz even now if disposed wrongly, the plastic bag might end up in some poor animal’s gut and would turn out to be life threatening.

So, preferably a change in attitude – like carrying our own bags while stepping out to shop would really make a huge difference.

As soon as I stepped into the Dubai Duty free area, I immediately went to the counter where I had seen those cute reusable cloth bags which so easily fit into a small pouch. I purchased many bags and gave them away to many of my friends and relatives in Mumbai. They all had seen me using the bag while I was there and they had taken a liking for it.  Each one of them had requested me to buy a bag for them next time.

So well I was glad that unknowingly or knowingly   I had set a trend. Avoid plastic bags and carry your own cloth bags!

It is a relief to see many of the people I know understanding the fact that plastic waste can cause harm and unless the plastic they are using is oxo-biodegradable plastic, it would be harming the environment.

People need to be more responsible and only then it is possible to do something for the environment. It is we who need to stay and survive in this environment and unless we take care of it, we will be the sufferers.

So I hope many of you would look for trendy innovative options to replace that plastic bag!