Recycling and Travel
Written on April 30th, 2009 by AnuragRecycling involves processing used materials into new products
Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy.
The world over is reeling with climate change and global warming talks. The awareness especially in the more literate ‘western world’ and with the well traveled Indian is high but who is actually implementing the concept of Reduce – reuse and recycle – none other than the poor Indian in small villages across the country
The waste hierarchy is nice to read but where travel comfort is concerned it just results in waste, waste and waste!
Innumerable plastic bottles, waste plastic packets of chips, biscuits, plastic bags, plastic cups, its plastic everywhere. Apparently even the unattainable peak of Mt Everest is full of waste left over by these travellers.
A small fact – Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!
For centuries now Indians have sustained the culture of recycling. The tradition of recycling probably goes back to the poor economy that we have had but also could possibly be a result of simplistic lifestyle everyone has had before the markets opened up to international brands - so that when Indians get the morning newspaper instead of throwing it – its recycled and sold to the kabadiwalas – the recycling man. He buys everything that can possibly be recycled – paper, metal scrap, cardboard boxes, almost everything. The plastic waste is however doesn’t have too much value and is left behind.
The plethora of tourists flocking to popular destination of Rajasthan does not believe in the concept of practicing recycling. Western Rajasthan – where its common site to see people crossing the dunes on camel back , its serene monochromatic sandscape dotted with vibrant hues of women’s dupattas and men’s turbans is now also dotted with this awful waste left behind by tourists.
The nomadic camel grazers, the shepherds found an innovative use of the plastic and started spinning it on their drop spindles. So instead of camel hair one could see multi coloured plastic ropes – hand spun and then hand crafted into unique patterns making table tops, chair tops, etc.
The left over aluminium cans were cut into half and joint with rubber/ wire and made to serve tea in the dhabas. In different mud houses women saw effective use of plastic bottles to have bottled plants, the cans were cut to replace the traditional mirror work on the walls.
The ever learning Indian soon started marketing these recycled plastic by adding beads and making souvenirs such as bands, mats, you name it.
Big round plastic ropes were sharing space with jute and natural fibre ropes in small shops.
The ever changing landscape of the desert region will not be effected by the influx of tourists from the world over. We will continue to adapt and learn and manage the waste hierarchy.
Maybe we don’t need an ‘earth day’ after all where earth is already considered god and prayed to each day!
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