Sharp rise in plastic use in Hyderabad's supermarkets

Hyderabad: Supermarkets in the city have increased the use of plastic, customers shopping in these places have said. Every fruit and vegetable is wrapped in plastic, even cabbage, papaya and other vegetables. These commercial stores use a lot of plastic to wrap even individual bunches of coriander. Customers have demanded that the use of plastic should be reduced.

The customers are concerned with the increased use of plastic since it cannot be recycled. These are cling film single sheets of plastic. However, environmentalists say that Westernization, urbanization and modernisation have created various kinds of pollution for our country and carrying our own bag is the only sustainable way to fight these issues.

Imran Jeddy, a citizen who shops from supermarkets said, ‘I usually shop at Ratnadeep Supermarket and now they have made a new change, which I find very disturbing. Every fruit and vegetable is wrapped in plastic. It makes absolutely no sense to be doing that. Even stores like Heritage use a lot of plastic to wrap individual bunches of coriander.”

“In large supermarkets, it has become the norm to wrap all fruits and vegetables in plastic. But it defies common sense to do it for cauliflower, papaya etc. This is something that can surely be avoided. The cost of such wastage is something all of us have to pay for in the long run,” he added.

P Satya, another citizen said, “It is very disturbing to see plastic used and encouraged directly/indirectly, by individuals and corporate. Not only supermarkets, the weekday mandis/vegetable sellers in colonies also give vegetables in plastic covers. We too must be blamed as I see people carrying no bags with them to carry products from super markets and vegetables vendors. I generally carry a cloth bag, which is at least 15 years old.”

Environmentalist Madhulika Chaudhary said, “All wrappings are single-use plastic and there is no need of such wrapping. Increasing consumerism without any thoughtfulness or concern towards the environment must be condemned. Now the people must start thinking of new alternative social, economic political system towards sustainable and equitable society Consumers must understand that plastic is the best invention of this era but its usage must be controlled otherwise it has hazards exactly like uncontrolled fire. Habit die hard but we need to fight all pollution issues. Carrying your own bag is the only sustainable way to fight these issues,” she added.

B.V. Subba Rao, a senior environmentalist said, “The practice of using plastic is  also seen in French and French African colonies where even food is wrapped in plastic while serving in room service including all breakfast items too. They claim it is protection against flies and mosquitoes due to which even supermarkets use plastic for wrapping vegetables.”