Already ditched your new year resolutions and feeling awful? Fear not, for a few weeks from now to April, there will be many occasions to wish each other a happy new year and to make those resolutions over and over again until you finally start keeping them!
Yes, I’m talking about the slew of harvest festivals from different regions of India that start in January and end in April! All over India, we honour farmers and the produce they grow, and pray for a healthy new season.
However one common practice that holds zero relevance today and is downright dangerous to our health is the burning of discarded items. Burning trash is not only illegal in India but also contributes up to 26% of carbon emissions in some Indian cities.
Be it Lohri, Makar Sankranti or Pongal, bonfires are built to burn discarded items like paper, clothes, and even rubber and plastics! This hearkens back to the practice of clearing up one’s home and removing negativity by getting rid of unused and broken items lying around the home.
Bhogi bonfire
Early mornings on these festive days are filled with the acrid smell of plastics and rubber burning. Even bonfires built with only leaves and wood are dangerous to our health as they release particulates which embed in our lungs. Leaf smoke contains benzo-pyrene which is a factor in lung cancer caused by cigarettes. On these days, a thick smog covers the city leading to itchy eyes, sore throats, and serious repercussions for those prone to respiratory illnesses.
Yes, it is upsetting to see the fun rituals of our childhood fade away. There is something convivial and enjoyable about building and sitting around a bonfire. However, in densely packed cities where every street has at least a couple of fires on festive days, the impact on our respiratory systems is huge. So why not evolve with the times and find better ways to celebrate?
Club Artizen has partnered with India Wasted to collect all kinds of waste that can be recycled: e-waste, clothes, empty juice cartons, plastic covers, etc. Please contact us to know more.
Here’s what else you can do:
- Organise your discards in boxes – appliances, cables, clothes.
- Let everyone know you have things to give away. For example, I have informed all my friends and family to check with me first before they buy a cable or an adaptor.
- Let’s get back into the repair culture. Darn tears, sew buttons, take in or let out seams for clothes, and find local repair shops for appliances.
- Every city has vendors that will buy your discards. Dedicate a space for your neatly segregated discards and hand them over to a recycler every few months.
Let’s do our bit to ensure the beautiful invigorating morning mist doesn’t become a thick gray toxic smog.
Image credit: Avinashpothineni, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured image: Photo by Suraj Kardile on Unsplash