Plastic pollution has become one of the major problems in today’s world. Plastic is composed of many toxic pollutants and cannot be decomposed. The result being that it adversely affects the natural environment such as plants, wild life, marine line and even human beings. Plastic is very cheap and made from toxic compounds as it is meant for durability and not meant to be bio-degradable. In this post, 7 Simple Ways to Avoid Plastic in Your Daily Life, we talk about ways to stop becoming dependent on plastic.
In June 2018 , the Maharashtra government took a very important step to ban plastic from public use. There are heavy fines imposed on those who do not abide by this regulation. In recent years, Maharashtra has seen the negative impact of plastic, such as the flooding of the rivers, pollution on beaches etc.
As a prudent citizen, we encourage you to avoid using plastic. Remember, initially you may find it difficult but it is a mindset and so once you get adjusted, you will find that that it will be beneficial, both to you and also to society.
7 Simple Ways to Avoid Plastic in Your Daily Life
Some of the simple ways of avoiding plastic in daily life are listed below :
1. Start using cloth or paper shopping bags.
The first and foremost step is to start using cloth or paper bags for daily shopping. In the olden days we have always seen our parents and grandparents using cloth bags to bring vegetables, groceries etc. Its time we returned back to the same culture. Using cloth bags will reduce the usage of plastic in our house. Currently there are cloth bags available that are cheap and inexpensive.
2. Avoid using items which are packed in plastic.
We are used to bottled water, food served in plastic containers and different types of daily usage products served in plastic containers. Now is the time to avoid using products that are made with plastic. The Maharashtra government has clearly given instructions to manufacturers to find an alternative for plastic. For e.g., detergents can be given in boxes, foods can be given in glass jars rather than plastic bottles and drinking water can be carried in steel bottles.
Some new innovations like bakeys edible cutlery is generating huge interest as they provide edible cutlery made of millets .They make forks, spoons, bowls, plates etc., from edible material. Many restaurants have also shifted to banyan leaf plates for serving food.
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3. Bring your own mug or glass to drink water or have a cup of tea.
Many people have started carrying their own mugs and steel glasses for drinking a cup of tea or even water. Roadside vendors have started using earthen small pots for tea.
4. Avoid using straws.
Straws are used for drinking juices, soft drinks and other drinks. In reality, straws are unnecessary as you can directly drink from the source. In case you need straws, then there are some edible straws in the market which can be easily used.
5. Try and shop at organic or farmers market.
Farmers market give fresh foods and produce. The produce is fresh and not kept for long. Many farmers bring their organic produce in cane baskets.
6. Choose milk in returnable glass bottles.
In our childhood days we have seen returnable glass milk bottles being used to deliver milk at homes. It is time we go back to those days. Using glass milk bottles will help reduce plastic pollution .
7. Store your foods and groceries in glass or stainless steel containers.
Today, most storage containers are made of plastic but it is time to use either, glass or stainless steel containers. This will be beneficial for your health also. Most of the time people store their leftover food in plastic containers and straightway heat it up in a microwave. This is very toxic and injurious to health.
We would encourage you to take these small steps to enable us to reduce the usage of plastic in our day to day lives. This will help us and the environment to be a better place to live in.
Hope you have enjoyed reading this article on 7 Simple Ways to Avoid Plastic in Your Daily Life.
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Tags: 7 Simple Ways to Avoid Plastic in Your Daily Life, plastic ban in maharashtra, Plastic pollution, plastic waste
