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ANTI SINGLE USE POLYTHENE CAMPAIGN

We believe that for future generations to live happily on this blue planet, we have to make sure it remains livable, breathable and habitable. One of the major obstacles that humanity will be facing along with the rest of the species will be pollution and the most noxious face of this pollution is single-use plastics.

In 1950, when the population of the world was 2.5 billion, India itself produced 1.5 million tons of plastic and in 2016 as humanity crossed the 7 billion mark; the country was responsible for producing a whopping 320 million tons of plastic out of which more than 76% finds its way back into the ocean floor through rivers. Today Ganga and Brahmaputra are among the top ten most polluting rivers in the world, carrying the plastic debris into the ocean floor.

The extent of pollution is such that now most of the table salt produced by industrial process contains micro plastics due to the polluted ocean floor. This is further causing severe damage to the marine life of both rivers and oceans. Presently in India, we have to build an atmosphere for legislation for a complete ban on single-use plastic.

Shram Initiatives

1) We have started an awareness campaign in schools to dissuade children from using single-use plastics in routine activities.
2) We are putting pressure on the government to come up with legislations banning single-use plastics.
3) We use various platforms to promote adoption of traditional Indian kullars and biodegradable plates as alternatives to prevent single-use plastics.
4) We have started a concentrated effort to remove plastics choking our life tributaries (our rivers) starting from the River Ganga; we collaborate with other organizations in contributing to the cause.

The Menace of Single-Use Plastic

Plastic is one of the most useful materials. We use plastics almost everywhere. From packaging medical devices to consumables like milk packets, bread containers, water bottles, pet bottles for soft drinks, straws, coffee stirrers etc. Contrary to 30 years ago even small amounts as low as 50 or 100gm are being marketed in plastic pouches.