Shopkeepers and street vendors urged to shun single-use plastic and adopt cloth, jute and other eco-friendly alternatives
YAMUNANAGAR | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) team of the Municipal Corporation Yamunanagar-Jagadhri conducted an awareness campaign against single-use plastic at Red Cross Market in Ward 7, with the objective of making the busy market plastic-free and encouraging traders and customers to adopt more environmentally responsible practices.
The campaign was organised under the directions of Mayor Suman Bahmani and Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad. Ward councillor Priyank Sharma actively participated in the initiative and led the team during its interaction with shopkeepers and street vendors operating in the market.
As part of the campaign, councillor Priyank Sharma, accompanied by Ward Committee member Pankaj, SBM expert Durgesh Kumar, associate Gagan Beniwal and supervisor Sagar, visited shops across Red Cross Market and spoke directly with traders about the harmful impact of single-use plastic. The team appealed to shopkeepers and street vendors to avoid using plastic bags and other disposable plastic products and encourage customers to choose sustainable alternatives.
During the interaction, officials and representatives explained that single-use plastic is not only an environmental concern but also creates serious challenges for urban cleanliness and waste management. Plastic waste can accumulate in public spaces and drainage systems and makes the task of maintaining clean surroundings more difficult.
Priyank Sharma said that eliminating single-use plastic from the market would require active participation from both shopkeepers and consumers. He appealed to traders to gradually replace plastic bags and other disposable plastic items with cloth bags, jute bags and other environment-friendly alternatives.
He said the success of the plastic-free initiative would depend on a collective effort. While shopkeepers have an important role in avoiding the distribution of single-use plastic, customers also need to change their purchasing habits and carry reusable bags when visiting markets.
The councillor said that Red Cross Market could set an example for other commercial areas if traders and consumers worked together to reduce plastic use. He urged shopkeepers to make environment-friendly alternatives a regular part of their business practices rather than treating the campaign as a temporary exercise.
The campaign team also highlighted the connection between plastic reduction and cleanliness. Single-use plastic items are frequently discarded after being used for a short period, increasing the volume of waste generated in markets and public areas. Encouraging reusable alternatives can therefore contribute to cleaner surroundings while also reducing dependence on disposable materials.
Shopkeepers and street vendors in the market responded positively to the Municipal Corporation’s initiative. During the interaction, traders assured the civic body that they would cooperate in efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate single-use plastic from the market.
The traders also assured the campaign team that they would avoid the use of single-use plastic and contribute towards the objective of making Red Cross Market a cleaner and more environmentally responsible commercial area.
SBM expert Durgesh Kumar said the Municipal Corporation has been conducting regular awareness campaigns at different markets and public places across the city. These initiatives are aimed at increasing public awareness about cleanliness, proper waste segregation and environmental protection.
He said awareness is an important component of the civic body’s efforts to improve waste management. People need to understand that cleanliness cannot be achieved solely through municipal services and that residents, traders and visitors must also take responsibility for the waste they generate.
The campaign team also encouraged shopkeepers to support proper waste segregation and responsible disposal practices. Separating waste at the source can make waste collection and processing more efficient while reducing the amount of material ultimately sent for disposal.
The initiative at Red Cross Market is part of the broader cleanliness and environmental awareness activities being undertaken by the Municipal Corporation Yamunanagar-Jagadhri. Public places and commercial areas remain important focus areas because of the large number of people visiting them every day and the substantial quantity of waste generated through commercial activity.
Markets can play a particularly important role in reducing plastic consumption because shopkeepers frequently distribute packaging material to customers. A shift towards reusable cloth and jute bags can therefore help reduce the quantity of disposable plastic entering the waste stream.
The campaign also sought to create a direct dialogue between the civic administration and traders. Rather than limiting the initiative to announcements or notices, the team visited individual establishments and explained the reasons behind the campaign, giving shopkeepers an opportunity to discuss the practical aspects of reducing plastic use.
The Municipal Corporation has emphasised that public cooperation is essential for achieving sustainable improvements in cleanliness and environmental protection. Awareness drives such as the one conducted at Red Cross Market are intended to encourage voluntary participation and develop a stronger sense of responsibility among citizens.
Mayor Suman Bahmani and Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad have directed officials to continue such awareness activities across different parts of the city. The objective is to encourage residents and commercial establishments to adopt cleaner and more sustainable practices in their daily activities.
The focus on single-use plastic is also closely linked to the wider goal of improving waste management in urban areas. Reducing the generation of disposable plastic waste can ease pressure on collection and disposal systems and contribute to cleaner streets, markets and public spaces.
The participation of Ward 7 councillor Priyank Sharma and the ward-level team also underlined the importance of involving elected representatives in cleanliness campaigns. Local representatives can help connect municipal initiatives with residents and traders and encourage greater participation at the community level.
The Red Cross Market campaign concluded with an appeal to traders and customers to work together to reduce plastic consumption. Shopkeepers’ assurance of cooperation has provided an encouraging response to the civic body’s effort to promote a plastic-free market.
The Municipal Corporation is expected to continue its awareness campaigns in other markets and public places, focusing on single-use plastic, waste segregation, cleanliness and environmental protection. The civic body’s message remains that cleaner surroundings require not only regular municipal intervention but also responsible behaviour by citizens and businesses.
The initiative at Red Cross Market is therefore being viewed as a community-oriented step towards reducing plastic waste and strengthening the city’s cleanliness efforts. With sustained participation from traders, customers and municipal teams, the campaign aims to encourage long-term behavioural change and make environmental responsibility a regular part of everyday life in Yamunanagar-Jagadhri.
POD/DESK
