What’s the idea behind Green Karma 360's Steel Utensils Bank Initiative?
This is an initiative to reduce the use of disposables at get-togethers.
You
can borrow steel plates, cutlery and glasses from Green Karma 360 and stop disposable
waste going into landfills.
Why?
For
the love of health - ours and the planet's.
You
can read the genesis of this idea in my blog:
https://www.greenkarma360.com/2019/08/ab-tak-chappan-56-and-counting.html
https://www.greenkarma360.com/2019/08/ab-tak-chappan-56-and-counting.html
What can be borrowed?
Currently, there are 20 steel sectional plates, 20 spoons, and 6 glasses. I plan to keep building on the inventory.
Where is it located?
Dunwoody area, Atlanta.
How does it work?
Where is it located?
Dunwoody area, Atlanta.
How does it work?
- Write to greenkarma360@gmail.com to check availability.
- Make a $40 refundable deposit and pick up the utensils.
- After use, clean the utensils. They are also dishwasher safe.
- Return clean and undamaged utensils and get your deposit refunded.
You can keep them maximum for 3 days. Pick a day in advance. Return the next day of the event. If the demand is high, expect a 2-day cycle.
What is the rental fee?
There
is NO rental fee.
However, a token donation of any amount is welcome and would be used to buy more plates and cutlery.
However, a token donation of any amount is welcome and would be used to buy more plates and cutlery.
What if I lose or damage an item?
You’ll
have to pay the replacement cost for each lost piece as follows:
- Sectional plate - $10
- Glass - $3
- Spoon - $1
Why should I do it?
There
are many reasons, really. Take your pick.
- If you enjoy nature and it pains you to see it being destroyed: Be a part of the solution and not the problem.
- If you like to travel and hate to see the litter: Try not to create it in the first place.
- If you worry about your health and the health of your guests: Serving hot food in Styrofoam, plastic or paper dishes might leach harmful chemicals in your food. Why risk?
- If you like to eat organic: Nature doesn’t work in isolation.With soil, water, and air being polluted by the garbage you generate, it all comes back in your food through the very same elements.
- If you have kids and you want to ensure a good future for them: Natural calamities will not only increase in frequency but in intensity as well. Along with good education and health, you should think about giving your kids a sound environmental education. Kids learn by watching. You would be raising environmentally–conscious kids by your positive actions.
- Do you volunteer? Yes? Great! Consider this as volunteering for a cause.
- If you’re spiritual: You feel the oneness or interconnectedness of all beings and therefore like to care for the whole system. If you don't want the garbage from disposables in your own backyard, trust me, nobody else does.
- If you’re savvy with economics: You would know that a dollar saved is a dollar earned. Why make money go down a trash bag if you can save it?
I use paper plates. Why should I
bother?
Paper
plates are generally coated with a thin plastic coating so that they don't turn soggy. Such soiled plates cannot be
composted. They don't get recycled either. The only place they end up is in a landfill.
Remember the Amazon fires? The more paper you use, the more fires you're helping ignite.
Remember the Amazon fires? The more paper you use, the more fires you're helping ignite.
I use bagasse plates. Why should I
bother?
Bagasse
plates need oxygen in a landfill to biodegrade. In an interesting find, a
newspaper was taken out of a landfill after 40 years. It was still intact and
readable! So unless you are composting the plates, they just end up in landfills.
Once bio-degradables get buried in an air-capped landfill, they do not decompose. On the contrary, they produce methane, which warms the planet 22 times more than carbon-di-oxide does. At the end of the day, 'Reduce' is the holiest R of them all!
Once bio-degradables get buried in an air-capped landfill, they do not decompose. On the contrary, they produce methane, which warms the planet 22 times more than carbon-di-oxide does. At the end of the day, 'Reduce' is the holiest R of them all!
I have more than 20 guests. Why
should I bother?
Every
bit counts. You can add your reusable plates to the ones you borrow from Green
Karma 360. You can borrow from friends too. If I’ve been able to save 500 plus
plates from being landfilled, so can you. If you haven't already read, do read my story at:
Aren’t you using water in cleaning
reusable plates? I’m saving water by using disposable plates.
This is such a huge fallacy!
This is such a huge fallacy!
In the case of reusables, once the product has been manufactured, energy is spent only on maintenance. With disposables, you have to repeat the whole manufacturing cycle from scratch, using precious resources, (yes, water and lots of it!) and energy at each step. This drains the environment continuously.
Apart
from resources (raw material, energy, and water) used in manufacturing
disposables, energy is also used in transporting waste to a landfill.
The environmental cost of waste in landfills or oceans is so high, we simply can’t afford to pay it anymore.
The environmental cost of waste in landfills or oceans is so high, we simply can’t afford to pay it anymore.
Tips for Hosts
Congratulations on making the start. You should really be proud of yourself!
Now get ready with logistics to handle the used plates. These tips will come in handy for smooth sailing:
Congratulations on making the start. You should really be proud of yourself!
Now get ready with logistics to handle the used plates. These tips will come in handy for smooth sailing:
- Request a friend to be your green buddy.
- Place a marked trash can/ garbage bag nearby for leftover food.
- Place a large tub with a clearly marked label for soiled plates.
- Let your green buddy direct guests on how and where to put the used plates.
- Gently guide guests to remove leftover food from plates and stack the plates, glasses, and spoons in their respective piles. Handhold the first couple of guests and the rest will follow suit.
- If the party is at home, the plates can be stacked in the sink or a pre-assigned spot.
- If the party is outdoors, carry back the used utensils in garbage bags or containers.
Tips for Guests
Appreciate
the host for greening the get-together. Do your bit to make things easier for
the host.
- Do not leave your used dishes at the table for others to clear.
- Ask the host about the used dishes station.
- Remove all food from your plate. Stack it the right way. Ditto for glass and cutlery.
- If the party is at home and you have access to the sink, rinse your plate lightly before stacking.
- Ask the host if you can help stack your rinsed plate in the dishwasher.
- Be respectful of the host and follow the given cues.
Still have Questions?
Mail to greenkarma360@gmail.com