Back To Basics!

Water turns to ice when frozen, and at room temperature ice turns back to water. So on similar lines, if plastic is made from crude can we turn it back to hydro carbon fuel?

- Medha Tadpatrikar

Most of us progress through life without giving much thought about our surroundings. After a while we stop noticing things. Everyday our life in city is filled with lots of trials and tribulations that waste is least of our worries until something does not work. We were also one those who knew about plastic waste and its implications but didn’t give it much thought. Then we witnessed an incident that made us think and ask questions!

Impact on Nature

In 2009, I along with my partner Shirish Phadtare had gone to one of the wildlife sanctuaries with our respective families. One morning our guide informed us that our route has been changed. As natural curiosity we inquired about the reason, and we were told that it’s because of the death of some deers. Next day naturally our interest was piqued when we discovered the real reason for death of those deers. We had assumed that some wild animal would have been responsible for those deaths. Later we found out that the reason for the death was plastic in the stomach of the deers. Naturally we were appalled with this news. For most it would have been a story to be talked about at the dinner parties but for us, it was a turning point in our life.

Although, we did not give it much thought but for next few months every time we used to discuss about this trip we used to feel frustrated about the waste plastic and used to say to each other someone should do something about this environmental menace. There should be strict penalties for people who throw garbage on roadside. I guess after repeating similar conversations, we both thought of understanding the problem of waste plastic and to see if we could find a solution to this.

Knowledge gathering