INDIA – Bengaluru, has introduced a new challenge dubbed ‘No Straw Nariyal Challenge’, to address the issue of plastic across the city.
The initiative was launched by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administrative body to tackle the pervasive issue of plastic waste associated with tender coconut vendors.
As part of this initiative, the BBMP organized a series of campaigns among both vendors and consumers to promote the adoption of eco-conscious practices.
Specifically, the body called for the aforementioned vendors to eliminate plastic straws and encouraged them to use sustainable alternatives, such as selling coconut water without straws.
The challenge was volunteered by IndianPlogman & Cupman, a non-governmental organization, and participants of the BBMP Marshals unit.
In addition to discouraging the use of plastic straws, the challenge was designed to encourage the idea of ‘bring your cup.’
The country’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in a statement, said: “Despite tireless efforts to kerb single-use plastic, BBMP officials observed that many coconut vendors were persistently using plastic straws.”
“This innovative step fostered a sense of responsibility among the coconut vendors as well as the public, highlighting that even the smallest changes in our daily routines can collectively make a substantial impact in the fight against plastic pollution across the vibrant streets of Bengaluru.”
The initiative comes at a time when plastic in Bengaluru is estimated to occupy 20% of the 4,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste generated.
According to the Karnataka State Plastic Association, plastic consumption in the city is approximately 16 kg per person every month.
In this context, the ‘circular economy’ concept – an economic system intended to eliminate waste and the ever-increasing use of resources – offers a pathway to more sustainable resource management. It means reduced production, use, and safe disposal of plastics.
Problems in implementation
Bengaluru banned single-use plastics in 2016, with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike launching awareness drives and punitive measures.
“Though the central government has issued the ban, the implementation lies with the respective state governments and their state pollution control boards,” says Ravi Agarwal, director of the environmental NGO Toxics Link.
“The state’s actions are not up to the mark; there seems to be lack of effective implementation strategy from the states to enforce the ban fully.”
But India, which uses about 14 million tons of plastic annually, has not issued any advisory to stop the use of SUPs, and no penalties have been imposed following the ban. SUP products continue to be available as usual.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) chairman Tanmay Kumar highlighted that despite the ban, the use of single-use plastics (SUP) items, specifically thin carry-bags, also continues unabated in the low-end section of the economy.
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