In a statement here on Thursday, Rohit Prajapati, Swati Desai, Anand and Michael of the Samiti said the consumption of plastic bags or jars could be minimised by replacing them with cotton bags, steel or aluminum jars.

Pointing out that plastic released dioxin, which was 100 times more poisonous than cyanide, they said that unbiodegradable plastic took hundreds of years to get decomposed.

Paper could be recycled several times, they said, demanding a debate on the subject so that it could trigger an awareness drive.

Prajapati came down heavily on a hoarding near Kamati Garden which claims that the campaign against plastic would lead to destruction of forests. He expressed surprise that the hoarding was not signed by any individual, organisation or company.