From: Deepa Seralathan in India, 2005
Dear friends,

There are ways to reduce plastic in our environment.

I read that Ireland has reduced plastic bag use by imposing plastic bag tax. Shoppers have to pay the tax if they choose to take a plastic bag. There is a level where stores can reduce plastic. A small supermarket chain in the US lets you buy a thick plastic or a paper bag if you don't get your bag. Few chains give 5 cents back if you get your own bag. This technique doesn't seem to work well. The least productive method is where customers have to be motivated to take a bag. I carry a bag most of the time. But I still manage to forget, or buy more than what fits in the bag. I don't throw a plastic bag without using it one more time, which is to tie trash. (My shelf overflowing with plastic reminds me to buy one more bag).

There is a regulation that you have to tie garbage in plastic.

Maybe apartments have to start composting. I think Indians, especially villagers, are more aware of the environment than people here.

Carrying one's own bag simply doesn't seem to exist as a common practice. Only when people have the burden of taking care of their own trash, they will become responsible. This can also mean people have to pay per pound of trash that they throw or have to dispose them of themselves. (I can see how this can make people resort to throwing trash in the street at night. A neighbourhood in Coimbatore fined 500 rupees for throwing trash on the street. Singapore fines for throwing trash. Conscience doesn't work as well as punishment.

Clearly government has the magic wand. But each person can do something at their own level too. I am currently thinking of making cloth shopping bags as gifts to friends and of getting some more bags for myself. Let each of us know that 4 fingers point to us when we point one finger at others. Let us all carry bags at all times. Put some in the car, have a very thin collapsible bag in the pocket or a handbag, buy in bulk, buy products packed in glass/paper, grow our own food, whatever tricks we can come up with. Praise people who do these instead of calling them wierd. Make guests wash dishes when we throw parties or use banana leaves. Let us wash our plates and spoons and stop saying "everyone does this" to justify what we do!!!

Sources of information on plastic uses (roads, fuel bricks, etc.):
http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/support/services/printVersion/73_0_2_0/
http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/newsclip/story/73_0_2_0_C/
http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/newsclip/story/188_0_2_4_C/
http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/09/stories/2005080907190100.htm

Plastic for roads in India

• A low-cost, simple technology
• Spot utilisation of waste plastic
• Rain-proof, long-lasting roads
• Higher load-carrying capacity

MADURAI: The initiative to popularise a simple technology using waste plastic to lay roads has received a shot in the arm with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) approving it for wider application. It comes after studying of the plastic reuse technology, its application, life of plastic roads under varied weather conditions and the cost factor.

The Department of Chemistry, Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE), here has applied the technology on several terrains, including Wellington, Chennai, Greater Mumbai and Kochi in the last four years, and registered for a patent. In Tamil Nadu, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) had laid 1,200 km of plastic roads in 28 districts.

According to R. Vasudevan, Head, Department of Chemistry, the CPCB plans to lay demonstration roads in Hyderabad. It has sought a proposal from the college for construction of pavements or blocks using waste plastic. The CPCB is preparing pamphlets to be distributed to local bodies.

Dr. Vasudevan says it has been proved that plastic fills up holes, through which water seep during rainfall. Its binding with bitumen is so good that it acts as a water-proof layer. It will be ideal for roads that have to bear the brunt of continuous rainfall, like those in Mumbai. According to officials, though the technology has proved to be beneficial, it can be adopted nation-wide only with the approval of the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI). The Indian Centre for Plastic Environment will seek the CRRI's approval.

The State Department of Rural Development will send a report of an expert committee on the quality of plastic roads. The National Rural Road Development Agency, say officials , has written to the Department of Rural Development to lay "model roads" at 20 places in the State.

The State Government has spelt out its commitment to environmental sustenance by getting 1,200 km of roads laid using waste plastic. The idea is to save cost, improve road quality and adopt a safe mechanism for disposal of waste plastic. About 3,700 self-help groups are involved in collecting and shredding waste plastic.

Dr. Vasudevan says the CPCB approval is also significant in the context of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's recent announcement that kutcha and mud roads in urban areas will be developed at a cost of Rs. 400.81 crores under Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Road Development Project 2005.