Earlier this year, Indore earned the title of India’s cleanest city for the third time.

To keep up the good work, the Municipal Corporation of the city has now taken a step towards eliminating single-use plastic cutlery not only in government offices but in food joints and private functions too.

What’s more, it is going back to India’s traditional vessels and metal utensils like copper bottles and lotas, steel and glass.

Indore Municipal Corporation’s advisor for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to know more.

“More than 90 per cent of the litter in the city consists of single-use plastics, that are difficult to collect, clog drainage systems and pose a big threat to the environment due to being non-biodegradable. As Indore has won the title of being the cleanest in the country for three years, it is our responsibility to keep it bin-free, litter-free and dust-free.”

This has been ensured by enforcing a strict ban, confiscating tonnes of plastic bags from distributors, dealers and shops, and fining violators amounts ranging from Rs 500 up to 12 lakh!

The corporation conducted large scale awareness drives in its most popular markets including Sarafa bazaar, 65 Dukaan and Meghdoot Gardens where it emphasised the need for elimination of single-use plastic cutlery and become zero-waste.

“Our approach was simple. We met the association of food joint owners and explained to them the math behind it. Many of them spent close to Rs 2000 per day behind plastic cutlery which amounts to Rs 60,000 a month and almost a whopping 7 lakh a year! Instead, if they invested in steel, glass or melamine plates and cutlery, they would be cutting these costs down to 2.5 lakh, while making an eco-friendly switch and using a durable alternative!”