Nishikant Khajuria
A well educated young man from extreme south of India, is on a mission here, the other end on northern part of the country, for awareness against toxic non-biodegradable Thermocol and promotion of eco-friendly disposables.
Sathya Prabhu, a resident of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, has been camping here in extreme cold and virtually going from door to door for trying to convince the people to use environment friendly disposables, made up of Areca leaves.
“I am here to aware people against disposable items, made of Thermocoal/Styrofoam and plastic, which are toxic and non-biodegradable thus polluting the environment as well as our health,” he told the Excelsior.
While displaying his environment friendly products, made up of Areca leave, Sathya explains the benefits of these eco-friendly disposables, which are hundred percent biodegradable and compostable. These hygienic, non-odorous, non-toxic, light weight plates and cups are made up of areca leafs, which have been used as plates for dinning purpose since centuries. With new technology, this natural and rigid material is compressed to a shape of a design plate, which in use with dry food can last longer period. However, in use with moist food, the plate would serve only once.
The production process of the plates does not require added chemicals or heavy infrastructure. The carbon footprint of making the plate consists mainly of heating water and the metal cast. Since the tree drops its leaves naturally, the production process does not require cutting or harming of the trees, Sathya explains and adds that the items made up of areca leave do not cost more.
Sathya is also planning alternative to plastic carry bags. These bags are made by pasting and folding either two or three sheets of newspaper to make bags of different sizes. The handles of these bags can be made with jute strings or cotton string. The price per bag depends on the size and the thickness.
Prominent scientists and important Government functionaries have recognized and appreciated the efforts of Sathya Prabhu for his mission. So far, he has met Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, a number of other senior minister and top officers of J&K, highlighting the objective of his mission.
According to Dr Ram Vishwakarma, Director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road Jammu, Polystrene is a well known polymer of styrene, which has been classified as a Group 2B chemical, possible carcinogenic to human by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States.
On the efforts of this young man, Srinagar Municipal Corporation has shot a letter to the food vendors, hotels and restaurants in the summer capital to stop using thermocol disposables while a number of similar recommendations have been made by other bodies.
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