This refers to the editorial, “Wages of sin” (June 6). It is to state the obvious that plastic waste is ubiquitous and poses a serious threat to the environment and human survival. We find heaps of discarded plastic straws, stirrers, wrappings, bags and bottles in every nook and corner of the landscape. Plastics that make their way into the ocean are trapping and killing marine creatures like fish and are making our water bodies uninviting to use.
The UN slogan “Beat plastic pollution” must be translated into action if we are to keep the planet a safe place for our future generations. It is predicted, given the current rate of pollution, there could be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by the year 2050. This underlines the need to intensify a mass campaign to create awareness among people about the ill-effects of unchecked plastic use and persuade them to give up the habit of using plastic manufactured in the name of ‘convenience'.
Carrying your own shopping bags and reclaiming glass or steel cups for tea and coffee can make a difference. The Tamil Nadu Government did the right thing in banning single-use plastic products. A plastic-free planet is a goal worth pursuing for our and posterity's sake.