Bengaluru learns to dump the disposables for rented tableware

Angela Ranjeet, a software professional with Adobe Systems, was throwing a birthday party for her four-year-old daughter when her friend told her about SpillSavers, a two-women team that home-delivers tableware for rent.
She decided to rent instead of buying disposables for the event. "I highly recommended it to my friends," she beamed.

Pooja Dixit and Shalini Goel, the women behind SpillSavers, started it as a sustainable-living initiative to curb wastage. "Events are polluting.A small house party can generate as much waste as a household would in a month," she says.

To encourage people from reducing wastage, the duo take time out from their personal businesses and personally drop off a variety of reusable supplies at the doorsteps and collect them back, even if they are un washed, after the event.

"I used paper cups and plates to avoid washing dishes after the event.I get the same luxury here and am not spending much more," says a pleased Ranjeet. Initiatives such as these are forcing Bengalureans, not just the eco-conscious, to re-think their everyday decisions. The state ban on plastic disposables has also helped.

For those who are unwilling to spend, there are free alternatives.Adamya Chetana, the social organisation well-known for being the largest supplier of midday meals to governments schools in the state, recently entered this space by launching a plate bank scheme.

The organisation, which has a stock of about 5,000 sets of tableware, decided to give it out to the public for use at no cost. "You just need to give us a cheque as a sort of guarantee when you pick up the stock from our Kempegowda Nagar branch," says BR Venugopal, the officer in charge."And take it back when you return the tableware."

Within two months of the launch, the scheme has seen an overwhelming response, with one request or two coming in every day .

Renting out tableware is not entirely new. A few years ago, it was commonplace for a caterer to supply cutlery and glasses before inexpensive disposables flooded the market.

Abhisheka Krishnagopal, a wildlife researcher, was glad to chance upon these options before her brother's engagement. "The party hall only had disposables and the caterers said they've stopped stocking cups and spoons as people preferred disposables."

People are changing, going back to reusable practices, she assures. Soon, there may be more than just a handful of options.