EVERYONE NEED TO BE CONCERNED TO SAVE ENVIORNMENT BY OPTIMISING USAGES AND AVOIDING WASTAGE OF MOST OF THINGS AND SERVICES

[CA DEV KUMAR KOTHARI]

General:

Everyone can and need to contribute for environmental protection by avoiding avoidable usages and wastages of everything and by ensuring proper use of everything. 

Wastage of anything causes more pollution:

One must not feel proud in wasting things by saying we earn a lot and do not need to care to avoid wastage. Many people, unfortunately feel proud in wasting things. This is wrong approach. Some marketing companies, consider wastage of their product as a source of demand, that is only because of simple profit orientation. Demand must be such that it serves purpose for which the goods or things are made. It is felt that on many packaged goods shelf life (use before date) is shown for shorter duration. Whereas good quality of packaging material used and advanced packaging process and technology used results into longer shelf life. Discussions are going on about medicines, and it is noticed that on many medicines expiry date is advanced whereby demand is increased. If packing is proper and intact, useful life of many medicines can be longer. In case of damaged packaging, things can get spoiled very soon.

Therefore, packaging factor is also one factor which need to be monitored to avoid wastage by having proper shelf life and by avoiding damages of packages.

Waste material itself causes pollution in environment so we need to reduce wastages of all things. Wasted material is a source of pollution due to waste and emissions from it being spread in environment – on soil, in water and in air.

Energy is used in producing, processing, manufacturing, transportation and even during process of consumption of many things which we use.  Even in case of agricultural produce some sort of power and fuels are consumed in farms and from farms to our homes and during course of preparing things to eat energy is used in some or other manner and kinds of different fuels. 

For  a simplest example, even a glass of drinking water is made available after many processes which require power and fuel  to collect water, processes  to clean  water,  transport from larger reservoir to reservoir of public by pipe lines or tankers, lifting of water from underground tanks to overhead tanks, then supply from overhead tanks to pipe line points, water purifiers etc. In all machines used and surrounding for these activities power and fuels are used in running machines, lighting, transportation etc.

Many people have habit of wasting water. They would drink half or even less than half glass of water and waste balance quantity. If a person take and drink water as per requirement and can avoid such wastage of say two  glass of water (400 Ml)  daily in a year he will save 146 Ltr of water. 

Similarly avoiding water wastage in other usages equal to 5 ltr daily can save 1825 Ltr of water per person.

Wastage of electricity / coal/ steam by avoiding avoidable ironing of cloths can save fuels equal to 30 to 50 kg. of coal every year for each person. Avoiding 1 kg of coal consumption can reduce pollution many fold by reduced heat and gas emissions.

Similarly wastage of food article is a major concern. We must appreciate recently launched advertisements by the government to avoid wastage of foods.

Avoiding lighting for one hour daily can save lot of power and fuel.

Proper use in proper manner of fuels like LPG, electricity, kerosene, coal, fire wood etc. for cooking  in kitchens can save fuel consumption by about 30%. Saving of one LPG cylinder in a family in a year is not a tough task.

Wastage of electricity can be avoided by ever one by simply optimising usages.

The above savings are just examples of minimum savings one can achieve by just having attitude of avoid wastage and optimise uses.

Reduce smokes and smells.

Everyone must endeavour to reduce smokes, smells and other chemical usages. Passive smokers are also effected by smoke other exhale while smoking. Smokes by puja samagri, dhhop batti, lighting lamps etc. are also causing damages to environment. Just by optimisation of these things a sizable reduction can be made in heat and gas emission in environment. Just by using small sized dhoopbatti, agarbatti, and small quantity of poojan samagri in havan, lot of damages to environment can be avoided.

Avoiding wastages of other articles and things will also reduce energy consumption.

Fiscal incentives:

Governments of various countries have considered importance of environment protection and are providing various capital and consumption related fiscal incentives by way of subsidies and tax concessions. In our country also the Central Government and many state governments have provided such incentives.

Mere fiscal incentives are not enough- we need to change mind set to avoid wastage:

Mere fiscal incentives are not enough. We need to change our mind set to avoid wastage which in turn will reduce power consumption and environmental damages.

Request to readers and visitor of this website:

Readers of this website are learned and influential persons. Some saving for them by avoiding wastage may not be material and most of them can afford extra costs in such wastages. However, merely affordability should not be a constraint or criterion on the aspect of avoid wastage and optimise uses for benefit of society at large.

This article is intended for benefit of public at large small initiative taken by readers can contribute to reduce wastage, save public money and increase public welfare.  Wastage of water and electricity is significant almost everywhere - at homes, offices, factories and public places. Wastage of other things are also common. Merely because we can afford and spend more should not be a reason to give a blind eye to wastage – we must point out such wastage to concerned people and authorities.  Wastage of anything is morally wrong and we must make efforts to reduce wastage whenever it is possible.

In fact avoidance of wastage should be considered as prudent use of resources. We should not feel ashamed while thinking for even small savings by avoiding wastage. Wastage avoided must be considered as protecting present and savings made for future.