Have you ever noticed that most of the rubbish bins are filled with tissue papers and tissue towels? What is the rationale behind of those piles of tissue waste? Obviously it is the effect on the transmitting 3R via Reduce, Reuse and Recycle on protection of our environment.
Our kids are taught and made to bring tissue papers or tissue towels along with them for outings as they have been instilled with the concept of 3R as in their minds for cleanliness. That those tissues materials are easily replaced and dissolved with little negative impact on our environment is now deep rooted in their mind. Undeniably, too much emphasis on the concept of 3R ignoring the primitive use of customary linen cloth called handkerchief or face towels has been neglected and sidelined.
The campaign of 3R has been inclining towards “recycle “by sidelining “reduce “ and “reuse”. In the end, our children forget the use of handkerchief and face-towels with some of them not having these clothing wares at their house. Nowadays, it is a norm that children are not carrying with them handkerchiefs and face-towels when outings instead they are given tissue papers and tissue towels. These slinging materials are easily disposable but not reusable nor recyclable and at the end, our bins full of thrown tissue papers and tissue towels.
It is opined that bringing back the culture of using handkerchiefs and face towels for children may help to alleviate the existing ugly scene of bins and tongs stuffed with tissue papers and tissue towels en route to cleanliness of our environment. Are handkerchiefs and face towels made easily available and reachable for children at home? The answer is definite “No” as these items are now scarcely kept in our houses. Incidentally, sales of handkerchiefs are hard to find either as the demand for these items are relatively low. It is not an exaggeration to say that if this trend is to continue there is a possibility that, sooner, handkerchiefs may become extinct and unknown to our children.
Gone was the day when restaurants and eateries would provide hand towels for the guests and in substitution packets of tissue papers are given. When the feasts end, tissue papers and tissue towels are scattering and being thrown onto the tables. How to end this trend? Of course, the time to ignite the use of handkerchiefs!
