We, friends, were walking in the garden adjoining the lake.

‘See the number of plastic bags littered on this lake edge! Someone threw a plastic bag from a car,’ Anju commented , shocked by uncivilized behaviour.

‘Seriously! Shameful! Our Public is so unconcerned about Earth being saddled with plastic garbage, and all nations are worried and researching ways to tackle this problem.’ I added.

 ‘Plastic should be banned altogether. Have we not managed before the advent of plastics in our daily lives?’ Rekha commented.

 ‘That may not be feasible, given its usefulness and convenience. A way has to be found how to reduce this waste. I do my bit by recycling,’ Anju added.

 ‘बाबा, I तो make full use of plastic containers. They are very convenient and easy to handle,’ Priya admitted frankly.

 ‘You know, a few weeks back, I ordered Rosagullas from the new Bengali sweet shop. He sent them in a beautiful white plastic container with a beautiful Alpana design. Last week when I was sending Dahi vadas to my daughter, I sent in that container. Yesterday, I noticed that her mother-in-law used that container as a planter. I was happy that one plastic container has been recycled and used in three homes,’ Priya added.

 ‘I, too, keep all the food containers I get. I recycle them as containers, boxes to store pencils, small stationery items, etc.’ I mentioned.

‘You can also make many articles such as "Best out of Waste" with these bottles and containers,’ Anju suggested.

‘Will you teach me? I have so many bottles and dabbas,’ Priya asked her.

‘There are umpteen YouTube videos. You will find beautiful articles for home décor made from plastic bottles and containers,’ Anju replied.

‘Arre Yaar, I agree, these plastic containers are useful, but where to store them?’ Munira groaned.

 ‘In plastic covers!’ we all replied in unison.

 ‘What! You keep plastic dabbas in a plastic cover.’ Munira asked.

‘Yes. I तो stack all the plastic dabbas in a big plastic cover and hang it on a hook to keep the kitchen rack uncluttered. I keep all the lids of these dabbas separately in a smaller plastic cover.’ Priya replied.

‘Why so many covers, yaar?’ Munira asked.

 ‘That way, less space is required, and you can store more dabbas and lids. The only problem is finding the right lid and dabba when you want to use it. Searching and matching the right dabba with its lid takes some time,’ Priya confessed.

 Munira said. ‘Recycling plastic containers may be toxic and a health hazard. And the bags you store them may get infested with cockroaches.'

‘No worries, I spray Red Hit before storing the dabbas and the lids,’ Priya explained.

 ‘So much maintenance work to maintain plastics,’ Munira commented.

 ‘There are three types of containers. One is transparent, with the lid also transparent. Some containers and lids are milk-white, and some are black containers with transparent lids. The white ones are available in big sizes, and they can store about ½ kg, so I store my dals in the big ones. The small ones I use for spices, masalas etc. I arranged the black and white ones alternating, so my shelf looks neat and well arranged. My daughter has made colourful designs and labels on these containers with marker pens. Come, I will show you,’ Priya proudly detailed.

 ‘Wah! Priya! We will visit your kitchen if you treat us to dal-pakwan,’ we said.

 ‘Welcome Ji, Aap sab ko!’ she replied in her usual style.

‘I think keeping plastic covers is better than containers and bottles.’ Anju added. ‘I have all sizes of plastic covers, which I use regularly.'

 ‘I use them to store my important documents, as sheets, for lining the shelves and wardrobes. In the kitchen, I use the small transparent ones to roll khandvi. I find it very convenient to sun dry the normal papads, sabudana papads, etc. on these sheets,’ She elaborated.

‘I agree the sheets are neat and convenient as kitchen rack runners.’ Vandana added. ‘The kitchen racks get greasy, despite regular cleaning. So once in 2-3 months, I change the plastic covers by cutting plastic sheets out of the carry bags and plastic covers packaging from Amazon.’

 ‘The carry bags that shopkeepers give with saris are good quality, nice colours and glossy. So, I like packing my saris and stacking them neatly in the wardrobe,’ I said. ‘Moreover, I save on the sari bags available at exorbitant rates, only to find the zip coming off, within a short time.’

‘But my daughter shrieks when she opens my cupboard. “Mummy, you are so stingy! Next time I go to market, I will get you a few sari bags.” 

‘Frankly, I don’t think I am stingy; I am thrifty. Tell me, why spend money when a free alternative is available? but you know… children! ….’ I trailed off, knowing my friends understood my sentiments.

‘Children will comment na! They think differently!’ consoled wise Anju.

 ‘Carry bags of shops like Kala Niketan, Queen Emporium and Amrapali etc., were like premium carry bags. In the 80s, we would flaunt these carry bags while travelling to the office. Though, we may be holding our lunch box in it. It was like a status symbol to show off that I bought a sari from that shop!’ I continued, reminiscing about those days.

‘I still think all plastic bags and containers should be banned,’ Rekha reiterated.

 ‘Government should allow the good quality plastic bags. We can use them when we go to the market. Carrying those drab cotton bags to buy veggies is so LS!’ Munira said.

 ‘Munira, you can make beautiful carry bags with the waste materials at home,’ Saranya suggested.’

 ‘What waste material? I don’t have any cloth materials at home. I don’t stitch,’ Munira responded.

 ‘You can stitch bags from old curtain cloth, towels, napkins, pillow covers, bedsheets,’ Saranya suggested. ‘I even use the cardboard cartons of Amazon as storage boxes.’ 

 ‘OMG! You can recycle old clothes and cartons, too! Where do you store these materials?’ Munira asked flabbergasted.

 ‘In plastic bags!’ we shouted aloud and laughed at her dismayed expression.

 ‘Thanks, ladies! I am happy we had a fruitful discussion on recycling plastic containers and bags on this Earth Day.’ I said, picking up my Tupperware water bottle

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