Waste not, want not

Despite the plastic ban in the city, one can still see disposable cutlery and plastic covers being used in a big way  here.  With empty plots and landfills becoming an easy option to dump disposable cutlery, Bengalureans are slowly becoming conscious and using alternative methods like plate banks.

Running a plate bank, even if in a small format has its own challenges. Pooja Dixit, who started Spill Savers at RT Nagar, with  Shalini Goel, started the concept from home. "When the Chennai floods happened, we were shocked by the amount of garbage strewn on the roads. We realised that in a city like Bengaluru where a lot of  events happen, the demand for cutlery was high," says Pooja.

The duo started 'Spill Savers' with 100 sets of melamine plates, glass, bowls, forks and spoon. "We only have dinnerware and one has to place a minimum order of Rs 500.  We charge transportation cost according to where the order is placed from," she details.  

The concept of hiring utensils and cutlery from plate banks or similar services is inspired from age-old  events where everything was sourced from outside, says Rishita Sharma from 'Rent-A-Cutlery'. "The hygiene factor is what inspired people to start using disposable utensils. Here, we clean the vessels and sanitise them using bio-enzymes that are made of fruit peels, jaggery and water, which have made our service a hit," she says.      

There are 200 sets of utensils and cutlery at Rishita's home at Whitefield and her partner Lakshmi started with 100 sets at Sarjapur Road recently. "Initially we got small home parties orders but not it has progressed to bigger events including marathons. We use 'Dunzo' or a share car to transport our orders and we do not have a minimum  order amount," says Rishita.

"At a recent running event, we  supplied glasses which were able to deter the usage of  4,000 disposable glasses and bottles. Such services should also be encouraged at schools also. Government offices should use glass bottles and steel cups too," she says.

Green way forward

Regular users like Chandramukhi Prakash Hatti, entrepreneur and member of 'Whitefield Rising', says, "Seeing plots  turn into garbage burning sites and lakes frothing up, it is essential to avoid plastic and non-biodegradable material. I found these services user and environmental friendly. Government subsidies should be extended to such services. Eateries on footpaths should be stopped from using styrofoam utensils and use this service."  

Break the  habit  

Manvel Alur, CEO and founder of Environmental Synergies in Development says, "Bengalureans are getting increasingly lazy and finding it hard to carry a bottle of water when we head out. Communities and residential areas are trying to break this habit but the percentage is negligible. Awareness programmes  should be held to  trigger  a consistent change."  

A challenging business

"Often utensils or cutlery go missing. I started off with 100 sets and am down with 90. Also one needs space to store the utensils," says Pooja from  Spill Savers.

"Initially, we weren't sure if the business would take off or not but we were determined to promote it at community events at least," says Rishita Sharma from 'Rent-A-Cutlery'.  

Younger lot tops the list

Citizens in the age of 25 to 40  place maximum orders.  Home parties bring in most orders.