World Plastic-Free Day to be observed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The World Plastic-Free Day will be observed in the city with a signature campaign and interactive talk session on Sunday on the Museum Grounds. The event, being organised by Thanal Youth Forum, will be held from 10 am to 4 pm. Dr Jayakumar and Shibu K Nair of the Thanal Organic Bazaar and Zero Waste Centre, Kovalam, will discuss the alternatives to plastic bags and the health hazards plastic brings to the public and environment.  K R Raja and Nicholas Kimuyu, project directors of the Better Bags Campaign through the International Institute of Social Entrepreneurs (IISE), Vellayani, will address the audience on ‘Plastic control and education for a plastic-free environment’. Women self-help groups from Zero Waste Centre and Blue Triangle Creation Stitching Unit of YWCA, Trivandrum, will put up stalls at the venue displaying alternative bags, cloth, jute, paper and handicraft items for sale.  The Thanal Youth Forum and the Better Bags Campaign team have organised a series of events for the month of July in the city, a press statement from Thanal said.  On Saturday, an awareness workshop for Kalliyoor Panchayat community will be presented by Raja and Nicholas at the Community Auditorium here at 11 am, which will throw light on new alternative bag production units in the panchayat.  An essay writing, poetry and painting competitions on plastic waste management will be held at the Little Flower High School at Vellayani.  For details, contact 9048341380, 90480 49133.