by NADEEM BADSHAH
PLACES of worship are phasing out single-use plastic in a bid to save the planet.
More mosques, temples, and gurdwaras in England are turning to reusable metal bottles and cutlery, water fountains and energy-saving light bulbs.
For the holy month of Ramadan, which ended earlier this week, York Mosque and Islamic Centre introduced reusable cups, plates, cutlery and water bottles for the evening meal to break the fast.
Rajnish Kashyap, from the Hindu Council UK, is on the management committee at the Vishwa Hindu Temple in Southall, west London, which is phasing out single use plastic.
He told Eastern Eye: “We used plastic often – especially on Sundays – offering food in the temple, and on Tuesdays to offer milk.
“A year ago, we decided not to use plastic plates or spoons on Sundays. We use steel plates with compartments. Temples in the vicinity are also trying [to change].
“Plastic remains in the atmosphere for a long time and damages it. It’s a baby step, we have slowly to phase it out,” Kashyap said.
“But it has a drawback – you use a lot of water to wash the dishes. We have to employ people to wash the plates and it is hard to find volunteers.”
The UK uses an estimated 13 billion plastic bottles a year, of which 7.7 billion are water bottles. Over half of those are not recycled.
Campaigners say they end up in landfill or as litter in the streets, canals and rivers. Some are incinerated, producing 233,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Bottles make up one third of all plastic pollution in the sea.
Green Lane Masjid in Birmingham also uses plastic water bottles, while Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre in London unveiled reusable water bottles and dispensers which will be sold to worshippers with proceeds going to a project in Kenya run by charity Islamic Relief.
It also pledged to only use biodegradable cups and cutlery during Ramadan.
The UK’s “first green mosque” opened in Cambridge in April with zero on-site carbon emissions, rainwater harvesting and air source heat pumps.
Harun Khan, the Muslim Council of Britain’s secretary general, said: “As Muslims fast in Ramadan to be closer to God, it is important be mindful of His creation and care for the environment when we are facing global warming.
“We’re glad therefore that many mosques are leading the way by banning plastics at mosques.
“We hope many more will get involved and ensure their congregations opt for an eco-friendly approach. We all must play our part in protecting the earth”.
Kashyap said: “I am actively promoting tree plantation. There was a scheme by the mayor of London, people from a church and a mosque were there. We also use low-energy lightbulbs.
“The uptake is slow, but they are employing it. There needs to be some sort of written down way of utilising our resources. We are doing it individually rather than a collective policy concerning electricity and climate [change].”
Gurdwaras are also becoming more environmentally friendly. They have traditionally used metal cutlery, according to Harmander Singh, spokesman for the Sikhs in England think-tank.
He told Eastern Eye: “In gurdwaras you will find utensils are reusable like metal trays and glasses. They do as much as they can. It has always been like that, people see it as selfless service to help others. When they do religious processions, they might use plastic cutlery. Maybe they can use paper cups in the future.
“It is the most convenient way of doing it. You can use the stain less steel ones for 10 years and they will not rust. “A lot of Sikhs have done work on farms and rely on Mother Earth so do not want to destroy it.”
