Use & Throw

A few days back, I went to my neighborhood stationery shop to get the refills for my favorite pen, Cello Gripper. I have been brand loyal to this very product for more than a decade or so. I usually keep extra refills in stock but when the last one was used, I decided to get a few more. However, to my surprise, I was told that the company was going to discontinue the refills and now this pen too, has joined the list of ‘use and throw’ items.

I remember a school friend of mine used small black ‘use & throw’ plastic pens her aunt got her from London. She found them ‘trendy’ and would dispose one every week or so. She gave me two of them but I found it quite annoying to throw away the entire plastic body after a single use. Now, I think, it has really become a fashion, a trend these days.

It is indeed a matter of concern. Adding to the waste and overloading recycle plants is a foolish thing to do. According to statistics, in India, the consumption of plastics will increase about six-fold between 2000 and 2030. Cutting down on plastic waste and reusing things are important requirements for creating a healthier planet. Already, India recycles a good percentage of plastic waste but simultaneously, we also need to focus on reusing things and cutting down on per capita plastic garbage.

Check this out!

	Percentage of Waste Recycled Top Countries
1	Switzerland	52%
2	Austria	49.7%
3	Germany	48%
4	Netherlands	46%
5	Norway	40%
6	Sweden	34%
7	United States	31.5%
Source: BBC

(http://www.aneki.com/recycling_countries.html)

I had read somewhere that the Germans use three separate waste bins for dumping their garbage. Even German kids never forget to segregate their waste before dumping. This is appreciable. We too can save our planet; we just need to make small efforts at our individual level in recycling waste and reducing carbon footprints.

These days, this concept seems to have seeped into relationships as well, that have lost their sacredness and sanctity. People change partners, make girlfriends, boyfriends and dump each other after ‘use’ so easily as if they are not dealing with real emotions but one of the ‘use & throw’ pens!

Now the pen ‘Gripper’ itself has been discontinued and I am really saddened by this 
    :(

Images from-

1. http://www.toonaripost.com/wp-content/themes/Yen/timthumb.php?src=http://www.toonaripost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.jpg&w=580&zc=1
2. http://kellysthoughtsonthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/reduce_reuse_recycle.gif