The plastic milk packet I just tossed in my dustbin as I made my morning cup of chai, if not recycled, may end up sitting in our landfills for hundreds of years to come. 

As I sip on my chai, and think about where my waste is going once I hand it over each morning, I can almost see the mountain of plastic that is starting to form in my head. One would only need to travel to the edge of the city, to see this mountain in reality. 

Delhi generates close to 690 tonnes of plastic waste everyday. Only 10-15% of it is recycled. Even ‘highly recyclable’ plastic like our milk packets, end up in landfills. While many local organizations and collectives are doing their best to ensure that milk packets reach a recycling unit instead of a landfill, the scale just isn’t enough. I too run an initiative, wherein we recycle plastic waste. We do the best we can with our limited resources, but we know that there is still a long way to go! 

It goes without saying that we need to act urgently. While it is important for us to significantly reduce the amount of waste we are creating, we must also be supported with treating the waste that is, in current times, impossible to escape. Like plastic. And who better to do that than the dairy companies who ensure that milk promptly reaches our homes every morning? 

I am therefore requesting our favorite dairy brands, Amul, Mother Dairy, Country Delight to lead the way. Sign my petition, and join me. 

Milk packets are highly recyclable, if collected smartly. If companies put in place a system to collect empty milk packets back and direct it to recycling units, customers too will be encouraged to save and deposit them at the nearest collection center. We need a system, and we need it now! 

Sign my petition and join me as I request dairy companies to;

• Assign centers across Delhi for customers to deposit empty milk/dairy product plastic packets. Add a scan code on the packet that locates all the collection centers.  
• Print instructions for customers on how to treat the milk packet; Steps they should ensure before depositing them back.
• Introduce schemes that incentivize recycling and encourage people to save and deposit empty milk packets back. 

When I make my morning chai tomorrow, I will ensure that I am cutting the milk packet the right way, washing it after use, and saving it for when I next send it for recycling. Sign this petition, so that we all are able to do the same! 

#DoodhChahiyePlasticNahi