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Preserving the environment: Few methods to make our lives more eco friendly

From using old computer equipment for your gardens, to carpooling and cycling work, few methods to make our lives more eco friendly.

Letting Mother Nature reclaim e-waste
Have you ever wondered what happens to old and trashed computers and printers? They are generally either burnt or dumped in landfills. And both these methods end up affecting the environment, making the land toxic over time. City-based doctor and environmentalist Dr S. Bakhtiar Choudhary has found a unique way out of this dilemma.

Using old printers —because they have very good shells — as pots, he planted certain types of plants. After two years, when he removed the plant, he noticed that the parts inside the printer had completely degraded. Not only does this solve the e-waste management crisis, it also helps to increase the green cover.

The doctor says, "Mother earth has a unique ability to recycle. That's been established without a doubt. I felt we should look at a biological way of recycling, as plants usually make use of many metal and non-metals effectively. They have an effective xylem and phloem- which can flush through the plant.”

And since the plants' sizes aren't restricted, unlike humans, they grow to enormous sizes and live longer, he says. "So the recycling ability is also far superior to any other living being," he says, adding, "This was the principal concept behind the experiment."

Thus began his experiment a decade ago. "I collected old monitors and printers and filled them with normal garden compost comprising soil, manure and sand. I planted certain long lasting dicotyledon plants."

He then sealed them in a waterproof environment to avoid contact with natural soil. After two years, when he removed the plants from the printers, he noticed that the plant had absorbed the minerals (lead and copper) and only the shells were left.

Come together
Another initiative, Car Free Thursday, started roughly a year ago has also gained momentum. Vishala Reddy, who conceptualised says, “75 per cent of vehicles are single occupancy. People could share the fuel cost, improve their relationships and do their bit for the environment by carpooling," says Vishala.

Start cycling
People of Hyderabad have been actively participating in campaigns for a better environment. For example, Bike2work, started by Sridhar Birlangi, have been encouraging citizens to cycle to work. Sridhar himself travels 18 km every day. “I encourage people to cycle to work every day.

This way they are also staying fit and doing their bit for the environment. IT professionals don’t do much physical activity at work, giving them another reason to take up cycling. Many of them enroll in gyms, but how many actually go there regularly? By taking up cycling you are also going to save the money you would pay for the fuel,” says Sridhar.

Good deed needs no permission
The employees of Hyderabad Goes Green are planting 30-40 trees on road number 45, Jubilee Hills. “Recent burly winds are rampantly uprooting trees. This is because the peltophorum pterocarpum trees that have a weak root structure. Yet, this ornamental plant is chosen by the government to line the roads because of its fast growth and heavy foliage. These trees house very few species of birds and animals and does not hold rainwater effectively,” says Rajshekhar, of HGG.

They are going to plant trees like Neem, Ravi, Mango, Amla, Murri which hold rainwater and sustain against heavy winds better. They plan to nurture the saplings by pouring one bottle of water each, while on their way to work, everyday for one year. “Why do we need any permission from the Government to do a good deed?” asks Rajshekhar.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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