Rise in PLASTIC WASTE- a THREAT to our Environment
Mangaluru: Canara Organization for Development and Peace® Mangaluru organized an awareness program on “Plastic Waste Management and Cancer”for students of Ashoka Vidhyalaya on November 19th, 2021 for 230 students from class 6th to 10th.
Ms Lenet Gonsalves, Programme Manager of CODP being the resource person said that the main aim of conducting awareness is to build a better and healthy atmosphere by managing waste systematically. Plastic waste management has emerged as one of the greatest challenges of 21st century. It is estimated that approximately 70% of plastic packaging products are converted into plastic waste in a short span. The adverse impacts of littered single use plastic items on animals, birds and humans were explained in detail.
The methods to segregate wet waste and dry waste and also to make compost from bio degradable waste at each house were explained. Doing this small task of segregation of wasteat home can help us to give respect to the civic workers who collect waste daily from our doorstep and maintain our city clean.
Children were asked if they are ready to collect stinky waste which may have worms and bacteria from door to door for a period of one week like the civic workers, for which majority of the students disagreed. Through this, Ms Lenet stressed upon the need for segregation of waste effectivelyto reduce further problems viz, garbage slip which happened at Pacchanady Dump Yard. The students were sensitized through a video i.e., removing a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nostril.
A demonstration on preparation of ecobricks was provided by MSW students of St Aloysius CollegeMsShwetha and Mr Joelto motivate students to build community structures through plastic waste instead of destruction of natural resources.
Thereafter, awareness on healthy lifestyle and consuming organic food was stressed upon by Ms Shilpa Dsouza, Coordinator of Sparsha-Campaign against Cancer, through presentation and video documentary.
Moreover, students came forward and shared their role in curbing the menace of plastic trash through the four R’s Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of plasticand have decided to take small initiatives towards plastic waste management.
Students of class 9 and 10 were provided with a handbook “Parisara Devara Vara” published by CODP.
