Got my certificate for accomplishing the 5 Day ‪#‎noplasticchallenge‬! Thanks to my dear friend Abirami for inspiring and giving me this opportunity to share my perspective on responsible plastic usage…. I hereby nominate the following friends to take up this challenge and request you to make your contributions in spreading awareness for a better environment… Ramya Gopal, Arthi Gopal, Elizabeth Divyesh, Athika Khan, Safa Asif, Deepak Durairaj, Shivika B Taneja, Alaguraj Palaniappan and Gowrish Swaminathan… Good luck to you guys! ‪#‎chennaicoastalcleanup.

(C) Geetha Gopal | Contents copyrighted, not to be reproduced without written permission from author

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Day 5: REPLENISH

While I ponder on how the 5 days flew past, I sense the positive energy around me that this challenge has brought about. I don’t think this challenge ends today but here begins a lifelong challenge to sustain which is the main purpose of it. I realize that it doesn’t take great environmentalists, just common people like us can bring changes for the greater good through awareness and small alterations in lifestyle.…

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Day 4: RECYCLE

Having done considerable recycle in the reduce stage of this challenge, I decided to collect useful information, references and links that will help me sustain post challenge. I’m sharing them below for your benefit as well.

Statistics of plastic footprint of 6 billion population was a mind-boggling 800,000+ tonnes and only 9% of Singapore’s plastic waste is recycled and what happened to the remaining 99%? Ended up mostly in landfills. Sad to know that we the Earth inhabitants produce 20 times more plastic than we did half a century ago 😦

The NEA site has some very useful information for the cause. Their Plastic Recycling Information Sheet, their list of products that can be recycled and the amazing list of local collectors, recyclers list and their contact details are great reference. I’m surprised at how much of efforts the country puts to facilitate better environmental awareness and responsibility.

I came across this very useful link that neatly sums up the harmful effects of reusing plastic for food and beverages besides endangering the environment in several ways that made me think that REDUCE is undoubtedly the best of the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Its wiser to avoid demons than handle them. LINK.

Also understood on why I should look out for the number indicated at the bottom of plastic containers. Ranging from 1-7 in the middle of a triangle, this number indicates whether the plastic is recyclable or not and here is the explanation for that. LINK.

A very interesting point that got me thinking was to transfer the burden of recycling heavy plastic/non recyclable plastic to the manufacturers. Well, I wonder how! Does anyone have a comment on that?

From today, I will keep a separate bin at home for plastic waste and make use of the recycle bins just below my block for responsible plastic disposal. Yes, its not as convenient as sending them down the chute but I’m sure it will be worth the efforts. While disposing, if I take a moment to check in which bin the waste should go, I think the rest is easy.

‪#‎chennaicoastalcleanup

(C) Geetha Gopal | Contents copyrighted, not to be reproduced without written permission from author

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#noplasticchallenge

Day 3: REUSE

Couldn’t wait for this stage of the challenge because I consider myself a proper professional in household item reuse 😜 While totally eliminating plastic is a nightmare, reusing is a breeze. My hoarding skills at home are put to good use in the name of reusing and here is how I do it.…

#chennaicoastalcleanup

(C) Geetha Gopal | Contents copyrighted, not to be reproduced without written permission from author

#noplasticchallenge

Day 2: REDUCE

Sunday being a (super)market day is the most challenging day in a #noplasticchallenge. Had to forage for no plastic items, gave up and looked for very low plastic packaged items, guiltiest buy of the day being milk and oil in cartons. Before I could load all of my things to the counter, the billing lady had piled up atleast 5 plastic bags full of my stuff, 1 bunch of banana in 1 cover, 1 cover each  for 3 milk cartons, “double” cover for the 30 pack eggs, 1 cover for almonds that’s already in a plastic package. Had to show her my trolley and return all the covers to her, she smiled sheepishly and so did I… I avoided plastic wrapped greens from there and bought them at the fresh market even if it’s slightly expensive.

Successfully restored my kitchen shelf, cleared all the grains in their plastic covers and transferred them to old milk powder tins, I used to have them like this earlier. Have two bags full of plastic from the process and also from today’s shopping that I will take to the recycling bin. Now I know the way to reduce the number of plastic covers at the supermarket and also in my kitchen even if I cannot totally avoid them. Soiled diapers of my boy went down the chute in a paper(old) wrap…

Lesson learnt: In my lifestyle here, I cannot shun plastic. The eggs come in plastic wrap, the milk, the oil, the rice bags all come wrapped in plastic. But there is a possibility to reduce by buying in large quantities and reuse the containers/covers as much as possible, if not, recycle them properly. Going to keep one jute bag in my handbag from today just to be prepared to reduce my plastic cover footprint!

#chennaicoastalcleanup

(C) Geetha Gopal | Contents copyrighted, not to be reproduced without written permission from author

#‎noplasticchallenge‬

Day 1: REALIZE
Understand better why behavioral change is the key to make any difference on our resources. I thought I was a ‪#‎lessplasticuser‬ until today’s realization efforts. There are so many little things I cling to, just because they’re convenient. My 5 plastic combs (1 for the sink, 1 for office, 1 for handbag, 1 for each bathroom at home), 3 lip glosses, 5 face-washes, 3 shampoo bottles, atleast 10 ball pens, my plastic anjarai petti, IKEA designer stuff that I’d kill to keep, hordes of supermarket plastic covers neatly folded and stacked, old use and throw containers for reuse someday… Not to mention my son’s stock of 5 BPA milk bottles, 3 water bottles, 5 milk powder containers, many many diaper waste disposal covers… So yes, I am far from there and I’m nothing but a hoarder…