5 Plastic Options We Can Stop Using Immediately And Easily

We Indians simply love plastic things, especially the disposable plastic. In a typical house, after getting vegetable and fruits from the market, we keep those thin disposable plastic bags safe to use it for disposing of the waste of our houses. We find it very convenient to throw the kitchen waste if not dry in these disposable plastic bags. Out tiffin boxes always get the extra cover of disposable plastic bags so that our office bag is always safe from any gush that may come out from those tiffin boxes. We have learned N number f ways to use those disposable plastic bags.

While a lot has been said and read about the ill effects of the use of plastics, its usage is rampant all over the country despite the ban being imposed in many cities already. I live in Delhi and despite the ban has been announced a few years back, it's effective implementation is yet to be seen.  The use of plastic poses hazards to the environment, human and animals’ health. Some of the harmful effects of plastic and plastic trash are as follows:

1. Human bodies absorb chemicals added to plastics. Manufacturers add different chemicals while making plastic to increase it's age and flexibility. But those chemicals put an adverse effect on our health.

2. We already know that plastic becomes more harmful when it gets heated. The chemical that plastic containers release are probable carcinogens.

3. Do you know that plastic buried deep in landfills can seep harmful chemicals that get spread into groundwater? Also, as plastic takes years in getting permanently vanished, the plastic buried in landfills releases poisonous greenhouse gases, which gets absorbed in the atmosphere.

4. Animals also are getting affected by our heavy plastic usage. The plastic litter on the roads are killing animals. The plastic waste that gets thrown into rivers is also suffocating water creatures.

Now, If I try to pen down the side effects of plastic, it might take a few blogs to cover them. So, I am leaving it here considering that most of us know and understand that plastic is a killer in today's time.  Although, we have the wisdom, still reasons for plastic being so popular are, because it is versatile, lightweight, moisture resistant, strong and relatively inexpensive.

As we cannot separate plastic from our lives in a single day, we can at-least start reducing its usage in our daily routine. Some of the example that you can follow to keep plastic away from your family are these:

1.  Plastic tiffin boxes: Stop sending kids these plastic tiffin boxes. Rather, buy steel tiffin boxes from any local utensils shop and pack your kid's lunch safely in that. For office going people as they have high chances of heating the lunch in the microwave, stop immediately those plastic lunch boxes. Instead, buy glass lunch boxes. Then food can be safely heated in the microwave.

2. Plastic water bottles: Stop buying plastic water bottles for your kids. Buy metal water bottles which are now easily available in the market. For small kids as well, now sippy metal bottles and feeding bottles are available, so invest in buying them (they are a bit expensive as of now).

3. Plastic cups: This is very common in offices where tea/coffee gets served in plastic cups. People go outside to enjoy tea from local tuppery which serves tea in poor quality plastic cups. Stop having hot brews in plastic cups. You can buy a ceramic cup and take your cup along when you are going to have tea/coffee. For kids also, don't use plastic cups for milk or water. Use steel cups and glasses

4. Use and throw options: The use of plastic spoons, glasses, and plates for small social gatherings is very common in our country. On one hand, it generates a  huge amount of plastic waste which makes streets awful. And also, it is not at all healthy. So, either buy organic cutlery/plates/bowls or use our common steel cutlery and dinner sets.

5. Plastic shopping bags: As I said earlier also, we Indians love taking plastic bags for shopping. It's time to stop that. Use jute bags (the industry is dying a slow death), cloth and nylon bags. You can yourself stitch your shopping bags easily at home.

Plastic Option	Replace with
Plastic bottles	Glass or metal bottles
Plastic lunch boxes	Steel or glass lunch boxes
Plastic bags	Jute, cloth and nylon bags
Use & Throw spoons/plates/glasses for social gathering	Organic cutlery (recyclable and edible ones also)
Packaged drinking water	Carry your own metal/steel bottle

It’s time to sit up, take notice and stop doing small things creating destruction in the environment and in our health. In long run, it can make plot better. 

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