Plastic Free July: Small changes, big Impact - Eco-champions reveal surprising plastic culprits and sustainable swaps

Plastic Free July: Have you ever encountered a landfill or a dumping ground, and realised the magnitude of plastic waste collectively generated daily?
Now think of a few activities that you undertake almost every day in your life - brushing, cooking or ordering food, buying groceries, completing your skin-care routine, etc. Have you ever reflected on the amount of plastic you come in contact with or dispose of while carrying out these day-to-day activities?

India produces 26,000 tonnes of plastic every day, according to the National Circular Economy Roadmap for Reducing Plastic Waste in India (2023) by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. While it may not be possible to curb plastic production entirely, managing its consumption and disposal can bring significant differences. With growing consciousness about the harms of single-use plastic, items like plastic bags and containers have often come under scrutiny. However, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Plastic has seamlessly made its way into our lives without us realising it.

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To explore the extent of the plastic we consume and the plastic waste we generate, mid-day.com spoke to eco-champions who have succeeded in following a low-waste lifestyle and are helping others do the same.

Why plastic waste management matters
Most of the plastic waste we generate, if not sent for recycling, ends up in a landfill. "Anaerobic conditions are generated in the waste left to decompose after a while due to lack of oxygen. This leads to the production of methane and other harmful gases. In extreme cases, this has caused landfill fires as well. Deonar landfill in Mumbai has seen such fires. Hence, it's extremely important to regulate waste," says Pooja Domadia, an eco-entrepreneur and sustainability practitioner.

Apart from environmental impact, landfills also have social implications. Sameera Satija, State President of WICCI Bioenzyme Council, Haryana and a zero-waste practitioner elaborates, "In 2016, when I was working with a plantation group, I came across a landfill near our project site. Before that, I never realised where the waste we produce was going. It was out of sight, out of mind. The stories of people living around that landfill were horrific. They were facing medical complications because of groundwater contamination. And that's when I started learning about waste management and gradually converted my home to a zero-waste home, because our waste shouldn't cause problems for others."

While people are largely aware of the consequences of plastic waste, they struggle to implement changes, partly due to lack of knowledge and partly due to perceived lack of alternatives.

Start with the basics
Adopting a zero-waste or low-waste lifestyle may seem daunting. However, according to the ones who have taken the plunge, it is all about the small steps. "A zero-waste lifestyle doesn't mean you won't generate any waste. The basic objective always is to keep reducing waste. Meanwhile, whatever waste we do produce should be properly segregated and scientifically managed; biodegradable waste should be composted and plastic waste should go for recycling accordingly. So, it's not really zero-waste, but zero waste going into the landfill," believes Satija.

"If you want to start living a low-waste lifestyle, just pause and think about what your grandparents did in their time. That, to me, has answered a lot of questions," suggests Domadia.

Here are some basic steps you can follow to generate less plastic waste:

Audit and segregate
The first step towards change is realising something needs to change. For that, audit the things coming into your house. "Analyse what is coming in plastic packaging and how many of those you can get without plastic packaging also. Then, segregate the plastic that can be recycled and send it for recycling," advises Mansi Shah, an eco-entrepreneur and low-waste lifestyle practitioner.

It is also important to take account of plastic items we use without realising they are plastic. "Non-woven cloth bags, nail polish and paper cups are all items that contain plastic and we don't realise the same," inform Domadia and Shah, who also impart their sustainability learnings through Hum Prithvi Se Workshops.

Reduce, reuse and replace
Less the consumption, less the waste generation on an individual level. "Suppose you want to buy coffee and there's no alternative but to get it in a plastic glass. One thing that you can do is not take the straw and the lid. If you use only 1 of the 3 items, you have reduced your plastic waste by around 60% immediately," says Satija.

Instead of depending on plastic, opt for alternatives that are less harmful and can be reused. "Avoid disposable items like crockery, cutlery, bottled water, etc. These are all single-use plastics that will go into the landfill after only one use. Instead, carry your bottle, cloth bag, or napkin with you everywhere," suggests Sonika Bhasin, a sustainable lifestyle and sustainable parenting practitioner. "While grocery shopping, try to opt for package-free items. For example, you will easily find dal, atta, rice, etc. without plastic packaging. In Mumbai, there are a lot of zero-waste stores. But in a regular grocery store also, there is a lot of package-free stuff, so you can carry that in your bags and containers," she adds.

However, following sustainable practices should not lead to more waste creation. "Just because we are on a path towards sustainability doesn't mean we start throwing out all plastic items. For example, plastic containers can be reused to store non-edible items, because throwing them away will only add more waste to the landfill. So, use them till they last," points out Shah.

Alternatives to everyday plastic items
Here are some plastic items that are generally used in everyday life (without realising) and their less harmful alternatives for the same, as suggested by the eco-champions we spoke to.

1. Plastic crockery and cutlery
Stainless steel utensils are a good alternative to plastic.

2. Plastic toothbrush
One can use a bamboo toothbrush or go back to the basics and use a datun. Alternatively, there are toothpaste tablets that eliminate the need for a brush and toothpaste.

3. Pen
Opt for a reusable ink pen. Although it is difficult to eliminate plastic pens, reusing them reduces waste.

4. Milk packets
Some brands deliver milk in sustainable packaging, but these might be expensive. In this situation, plastic milk packets should be washed and recycled. There's also an option to get milk directly from the stable, which eliminates packaging.

"We are trying to reduce our milk consumption since the dairy industry poses another problem altogether," posits Bhasin.

5. Cosmetics and toiletries
These come in plastic bottles and tubes. One can opt for organic soap bars, some of which are just wrapped in a paper sheet or use homemade products.

6. Sanitary Pads
One can opt for a reusable cloth pad, period panties or menstrual cups.
(Consult an expert before using menstrual products.)

7. Balloons
Choose reusable or upcycled decorations.

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