Not made of plastic, it's fantastic

Starting Wednesday, Domlur will see shopkeepers, vegetable vendors and homemakers use the ‘green bags’ instead of the regular plastic bags.

An initiative by Compact Green Enterprises (CGE) and NGO Voice for India, the pilot project was officially announced here on Sunday. Domlur was chosen to be the plastic free zone primarily due to the efforts of BBMP corporator Geetha Srinivas Reddy.

The project which aims at covering Domlur within 45 days requires a minimum of two lakh green bags, out of which one lakh have already been manufactured.

So how does the concept of green bags work? Available in three sizes (small, medium and large), the bags made out of polypropylene will require the user to deposit Rs 2, Rs 5 and Rs 9 respectively. The fact that people will spend a few rupees to get this bag will ensure that many will not throw these bags away easily.
The bags can be washed and reused 15 times.

“One bag replaces 15 plastic covers being thrown. The bags will also have advertisements on them through which we shall recover the cost of production which is between Rs 5 - Rs 6 and make this a sustainable project for all stakeholders,” said Suresh Tota, MD, CGE.

The deposit can be availed by the user by either giving the bags to ragpickers or at certain collection centres which will soon be identified by BBMP and CGE.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Geetha said, “Almost 600 shops and owners have been identified in Domlur. I live in Domlur so I know the problems people face due to garbage. This project has come up after one year’s work and planning.”

Speaking to media on the sidelines, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board chairperson A S Sadashivaiah, said: “This is a great concept. But it is an interim measure and not a permanent solution. We have asked industries to take up such initiatives and cut plastic usage.” He added that the residents of Domlur and nearby Indira Nagar are sensible to make this project successful.

Geetha Reddy’s Foundation also contributed Rs one lakh to CGE to distribute as many green bags as possible free of cost.

CGE is also looking at reusable vegetable cover plastic films and curry containers at all restaurants.

Suresh said, “Dumping plastic is the crime and not using it. With green bags, people will attach a value to it. All shops in Domlur will have posters and banners displaying availability of green bags.”