THE PLASTIC MENACE

There is a murmur that some cities in Sri Lanka are to implement a plastic ban. This is going to be a challenge since everything we purchase comes with some form of plastic. I am horrified to see the plastic I throw out each week from my home. Going through the bin I found that every item I had purchased came either wrapped in plastic or in plastic containers. The options are very limited it seems.

Some outlets do not provide plastic straws with their beverages whilst others have still to get on board.

Frankly, straws can be done away with completely; when did we start drinking thambili using a plastic straw? Drinking water and other sweet beverages seem only available in plastic bottles now. I remember a time when they came in glass bottles, for which we paid a deposit and was given either a refund when the empty bottle was returned or could be exchanged at the next purchase.

It is noticeable that some

Brands of bottled water have made a switch and certain hotels and establishments only use glass bottles for drinking water. If all eating places stop purchasing drinking water that come in plastic bottles or, better still, offer filtered water to their clients at no charge, the number of water bottles that are disposed of in a day will lessen drastically.

It would be a huge change if all single use plastic is banned and alternate options introduced. The Supermarkets must collectively decide to stop offering customers plastic bags at the checkout and insist that customers either purchase the reusable bags they sell or bring along their own.

In the Supermarkets

I am astounded to see the nonchalance of most customers, who seem to want as many bags as possible and even request for one when purchasing a small item like a toothbrush, which is already packed in plastic. Just the other day I spotted a person purchasing a cup of yoghurt, which was in a plastic container, insisting on it being provided in a plastic bag at the checkout, and tossing the bag aside at the car park to dive into the yoghurt with the provided plastic spoon.

As citizens, all of us must do our bit any which way we can to protect the environment. It would be fabulous if a countrywide ban of single use plastic and most plastic products could be introduced and implemented

I have no idea where he tossed the spoon and cup once he finished tucking into the yoghurt.

Probably dropped it on the wayside and moved on.

It would also be great if people were fined for littering public places. Having the Forces and many environmental groups cleaning after irresponsible disposal is an endless thankless task and if this happens continuously people will not bother to dispose of litter responsibly. As citizens, all of us must do our bit any which way we can to protect the environment. It would be fabulous if a countrywide ban of single use plastic and most plastic products could be introduced and implemented.