Kollam auditoriums to shun plastic
Mission to make the district completely plastic-free.
KOLLAM: Following other similar establishments across the state, the auditoriums in Kollam district will completely eliminate the use of plastic. The move is in solidarity with the efforts by the Suchitwa Mission to make the district completely plastic-free. The auditorium owners association has declared their wholehearted support to the endeavour by deciding to give strict instructions to the organisers of programmes including marriages, to promote the use of reusable utensils instead of disposable plastic glasses and other non-biodegradable materials.
Some 180 auditoriums across the district will go green abiding by the green protocol. The move is also a relief to the auditorium owners who find nearly 10 kilograms of plastic waste accumulated after each marriage function. “Most of the marriage functions these days depend on thermo-glass plates, plastic bottles for drinking water, plastic ice-cream cups, which pose a threat to the environment. Customers of the auditoriums use such items for convenience, but the disposal of the waste is a matter of concern for the owners. The district administration has requested us to implement green protocol in auditoriums and we will by April,” Vijayan Pillai, secretary, Kollam district auditorium owners association, told DC.
The auditorium owners have decided to promote the use of paper cups and plantain leaves, all environmental friendly materials, to prevent the excessive use of plastic materials. Currently the waste is incinerated inside the auditorium compound which also poses a threat to the environment and those residing nearby. The auditorium had been advising the beneficiaries to avoid use of plastic at the time of auditorium booking itself, but could not efficiently prevent the use of such materials. Now, the owners have decided to collect such plastic items, giving them for reuse. The new decision to strictly implement the plastic ban, was taken following a conference of auditorium representatives and district administration, and will come into force by April 1.