Kullarh Earthen Cups

Are the clay tea cups used in India GREEN? [1]

Today, in a minor BFD skirmish, [2] I wondered about the story told to me years ago by an acquaintance, who lived in India. She had visited India in her childhood and later in life. She was saddened that the clay glasses/cups used on the trains to serve tea and chai had been replaced with plastic cups. I remember her relating the joy she felt as a child, when after drinking her tea, she would throw the cup down and grind it into pieces with her foot. Dust to dust. Sounds like a sustainable practice to me. I found this one recollection.

http://prachi-pratap.sulekha.com/blog/post/2004/09/a-kulhar-of-tea.htm [3]

This all comes to me as I bundle "recyclables" on my day off from work. How I wish I didn't have to spend my time managing containers.

BTW, the shovel shown here was remarkably effective.  Since I have have the upper body strength of a ten-year old, I was able to shovel for two hours with very little physical pain.  The shovel manufactured with recycled plastic (1) was fabrique en Canada by Integrated Plastics, which has sadly since gone bankrupt.  Too bad.  It's a good design.  The injection-molded handle and stick are reinforced with criss-crossing supports to avoid twisting.