SHILLONG: The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Social Forestry Division of Ri-Bhoi District, J. Dkhar has urged the secretaries of all Churches, heads of all temples, mosques, gurudwaras in the district to check plastic pollution for its hazardous effect on the environment.
Dkhar stated that plastics products including plastic plates, cutleries, PET Bottles, take away cups, lunch wrapped in disposable plastic packets, plastic bags, disposal food containers, plates and containers made of polystyrene foam, plastic straws should be prohibited.
The staff and visitors to the religious places should be encouraged to refuse, reduce and reuse plastic products in their daily uses.
According to Dkhar, the use of durable, foldable and inexpensive reusable bag that can be carried around in car, pocket or purse, use of bio-degradable and other types of compostable utensils should be encouraged.
He also appealed to avoid plastic supplies especially plastic decorative tapes etc and introduce waste segregation into different colored bins and waste recycling.
The DFO has asked the religious leaders to come up with innovative ideas to reduce plastic footprint.
Dkhar also appealed the religious leaders to put up notice on the entrance or in the premises to prohibit use of single-use plastic items in their premises.
