Report by Aditi Singh, Harshita Sharma and Swati Upadhyay
CHINTAN NGO has released three video films with a proposal titled “Awareness and Action Kit for Citizens and RWAs for a Cleaner Delhi” approved by Department of Environment, GNCTD. MH Vatavaran, the Environment Society of Miranda House presents a brief summary of the short films.
The challenges of throwaway culture are exemplified by single-use plastics. We frequently value convenience above durability and long-term consequences rather than investing in high-quality things that will last. Every year, we generate 300 million tonnes of plastic, half of which is used for single-use items. That's roughly the same as the total human population's weight. Plastic that cannot be recycled, breaks into microplastic and enters the ecosystem. These are toxic and pollute our food chain. Plastics are poisonous for our rivers, oceans, wildlife and are harming our bodies. Here are some ways to play your part in conserving the environment.
Make a difference, Less waste today! Be a part of the solution, not a problem! Reduce plastic everywhere possible!
Video 1: Zero Waste Lifestyle
Implementation of zero waste lifestyle has been encouraged with the example of Aarti and Rahul who took the resolution to stick to zero waste behaviour in their daily lifestyle. Here are some of the ways they used to step forward to a zero waste lifestyle which you all can follow.
Use bamboo toothbrushes, toothpaste powder and toothpaste tubes to reduce the plastic usage.
Switch to plastic free shaving brush and metal razor.
Bring your own lunch in a metal box instead of the plastic ones.
Try to avoid the delivery orders as the in-order facilities use plastic packages which are difficult to decompose.
Reduce carbon footprint by using public transport at least 3-4 times a week.
Carry your own metal water bottle to avoid plastic glasses or buying plastic bottles.
Carry your own mug to drink beverages.
Manage your work digitally instead of printing papers unnecessarily.
Bring your own jute shopping bag to avoid the plastic bags given by the shopkeepers.
Switch to eco - pads (biodegradable) and menstrual cups (sustainable).
Use cloth in place of paper towels or wet wipes to wipe your body or furniture.
Use rechargeable batteries for remotes.
Be cautious about not to generate too much e-waste
Segregate the waste and compose the wet waste.
Video 2: Plastic Free Kitchen
An idea to make the kitchen free from plastic has been shared by a kid Vedant, who along with his mother presented various ways through which one can make their kitchen plastic free.
Use glass bottles instead of plastic bottles.
Use coconut husks to clean utensils instead of plastic vessel cleaners.
Use steel glasses instead of plastic glasses.
Collect milk in vessels instead of buying milk packets.
Stop using pre-packed fruits and vegetables.
Use table cloth to clean your kitchen instead of synthetic wipes.
Stop using aluminum foil.
Use a reusable cover on the container instead of plastic clean films. .
Buy masala from wholesale which has less packaging.
Use paper bin liners instead of plastic bin liners.
Video 3: Plastic Free Birthday
In this video, an initiative to celebrate plastic free birthday has been taken by a girl, she has suggested various ways to celebrate birthday without harming the environment.
Many items at a birthday celebration can be substituted with non-plastic, eco-friendly alternatives! Yes. We have the ability to do so. DIY decors such as paper bunting, paper pinwheels, paper flowers, stars, and other desired shapes and designs can be constructed with art craft ideas.
A birthday celebration isn't complete without a delectable cake, which should be served with cutlery. Instead of single-use plastic plates which generate tonnes of waste, we can employ paper plates, steel cutlery that are routinely used in households, and bamboo cutlery to achieve this.
Paper cups and steel glasses should be used for drinks instead of plastic tetra-packs and bottles.
Wet wipes, which are extensively used these days, contain microplastics; instead, we should use paper/cloth napkins.
A birthday is all about giving and receiving gifts. Instead of a glittering gift wrap, use a brown sheet, newspapers, or paper wraps.
Birthday parties are incomplete without games. Instead of playing games which are detrimental to our environment, one can play with old cardboards, boxes, and newspapers at birthday parties. Children enjoy painting and drawing, so a craft station can be set up where they can even decorate terracotta pots without the use of sequins or glitters which carry microplastics in them. They can be embellished with paints such as water colours, paper cutouts, fabric ribbons, and other paper crafts.
These are some simple day to day ideas by which we can start generating less waste. As a knowledgeable and responsible citizen, it is our duty to contribute towards the preservation of our environment.
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