A small contribution to save our mother Earth from chocking into plastic waste.

India is generating 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually of which only 12 per cent is recycled and 20 per cent is burnt, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The remaining 68 per cent remains unaccounted for, which means it is in the environment say land and water or in the dumpsites. Plastic wastage is growing at an annual rate of 9% and about 1 million marine animals die due to plastic pollution every year. Chlorinated plastic releases harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which then seeps into groundwater or other surrounding water sources, and also into the ecosystem. This causes a range of potentially harmful effects on the species that drink the water.

Plastic debris affects at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. The seas near Mumbai, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the worst polluted in the world.

Plastic is the classic example of a boon turned bane in society. Once proved to be a miracle, plastic has become a hazard to nature in several terms that is affecting marine life as well as land resources. Plastics have outgrown most manufactured materials and have long been under environmental scrutiny.

While environmental friendly biodegradable plastics are an advisable solution, it is essential that they also fulfil required functional performance parameters like moisture barrier, heat seal ability, etc. for them to see wide scale adoption. As in India, the plastics industry symbolizes a promising business segment that creates income and employment opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled persons. The Plastic industry employs about 4 million people and hence ceasing down use of Plastic totally isn’t a viable option for economy. Rather we need to come up with recyclable options that can not only save the environment but also generate employment.

Climate change is for real and incremental efforts won’t work and hence it is time for some transformation action. There is a need to push the producers/manufacturers, importers and brand owners to invest in R&D collectively and come up with sustainable packaging and alternatives to single-use plastic. Major rules need to be regulated like

  • All the plastic produced and used needs to be collected for disposal.
  • All the recyclable waste plastic must be recycled or incinerated
  • Any Plastic Waste should not reach landfills or waterbodies.
  • The reuse or disposal has to be in a manner that is environmental friendly and does not end up creating more pollution or health hazards.
  • Those plastic items that are difficult to collect or recycle should be eliminated from use. (Like single-use Plastic.)

Recycling is good – every ton of plastic waste recycled results in saving approximately 3.8 barrels of petroleum. Technologies are available in India that can convert 1 Kg of plastic to 750 ml of automotive grade gasoline whereas shredded plastic waste can be used in laying roads and much more.

Did you know that daily around 5 crore milk pouches turn into waste in India? Whereas not all milk and buttermilk pouches are picked up by rag-pickers. As a result, they sit on landfills for up to 400 years as often it contains additives that keep on making them stronger, more flexible, and durable and if they catch fire, as it happens often in summers, the chlorinated plastic on burning produces cancer causing-furans and dioxins.

But the good part is these Plastic pouches can be recycles and turned into small granules as these Milk packets are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is a subclass of plastics it is compressed at a high temperature and in certain shape otherwise they add no value which can be further processed to useful plastic equipment’s like pipes, chairs, dustbins, etc.

To overcome the waste generation and support to reduce the plastic pollution, we are trying to put in an organised system of collection and recycling of our pouches. Once these pouches are collected and sent to the recycling unit these packets are thoroughly washed, dried and then cut into small pieces by a machine and processed into plastic granules which will be further processed. A major chunk of this waste material can be reused and returned to the economy if more and more people begin giving their plastic for recycling.

We are also requesting our consumers not to snip off the tip of milk packets, i.e. cut the Milk pouch without separating the small piece as smaller plastic pieces are hard to recycle. This way one can save a large amount of plastic bits from littering the land and be a part of an initiative and contribute to save this planet.

Note: I have attached new image for Milk pouch recycle, Please get it changed.