Amritsar, February 26: To discourage the use of polythene bags at the Golden Temple, the SGPC has roped in NGO Dalbir Foundation, which has offered to provide cornstarch bags to replace plastic ones.
The “pinni parshad” packing is offered in polythene bags only. Though, the “karah parshad” is often given in ‘dunas’ (small bowl or plate made up of leaves), when it comes to carry it along, the SGPC didn’t have any alternative but to provide polythene bags.
These innovative bags made of resin drawn from cornstarch are 100 per cent biodegradable. These bags are not only eco-friendly but also claim to be 30 per cent stronger than the existing polythene bags.
Unlike other materials that decompose by getting divided into fragments and later being consumed by bacteria, these eco-friendly bags decompose when thrown in soil or garbage, enriching the quality of soil.
Resembling the texture and look of plastic bags, the cornstarch resin is three times costlier than plastic which is around Rs 90 per kg.The cornstarch bags are available in three types — bin bags for garbage disposal that costs Rs 110 for 30 bags, and carry bags costing nearly Rs 300 per kg.
SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said tonnes of polythene bags were used and discarded in Golden Temple daily. Polybags are used not only for carrying the ‘parshad’ but also for disposing of the refuse.
“Apart from it devotees donate ghee, dals, sugar or tea in polythene bags which end up generating extra poly refuse. We were looking for an alternative for long till we came across the proposal of the NGO,” he said.
Source Tribune India
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