The three-day exhibition on alternatives of plastic, at National Sport Club of India (NSCI) in Worli has done little to encourage citizens as the options are costly. While a thermocol plate costs Rs 1.5 to Rs 3 a piece, the alternative made of areca palm nut or sugarcane pulp costs around Rs 10 to Rs 12 a piece.
Siraj Zaveri, a manufacturer and distributor of areca palm nut plates, paper straws and paper cups said they have already received over 2,000 queries in two days at the exhibition. "The demand for a substitute of plastic is huge, which makes it impossible to supply immediately." Zaveri added that he has been exporting these materials to Australia and Europe but the city's need is much higher than expected.
Similarly, a bag made of corn starch comes at Rs 400 per kg, which most of the visitors found very costly. "The alternate is very costly and even the bag is not strong enough to carry quantity as per its size," said Nagesh Patel, a resident of Tardeo. Even the retail cost of a plate made of sugarcane pulp or areca nuts pulp is around Rs 12 per piece. "Poor people cannot afford Rs 12 per piece of a plate if they are inviting even 200 guests to their family function," said an exhibitor, adding that mass level production can reduce the cost. "But, there is a problem that do we have sufficient amount of raw material like sugarcane pulp or others for mass production," he added. Meanwhile, the cost of cloth bags and paper envelopes have risen following ban on one-time use plastic bags. Cost of medium size cloth bags which were available around Rs 15 to Rs 20 are now being sold at Rs 35 to Rs 40. Similarly, envelop 60 sq cm is being sold at Rs 150 for 25 pieces while this was available at around Rs Rs 90 to Rs 110.
COST FOR A CAUSE
Cost of medium size cloth bags which were available around Rs 15 to Rs 20 are now being sold at Rs 35 to Rs 40. Similarly, envelop 60 sq cm is being sold at Rs 150 for 25 pieces while this was available at around Rs Rs 90 to Rs 110
