GO GREEN-NO PLASTIC BAG
In the efforts to reshape Penang into the
first “green” state in Malaysia, Penang State Government Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng launched a Go Green campaign named “No Plastic Bag” in the year of 19 July 2009. Markets and single-owned businesses (hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, pharmacies, fast food restaurants, nasi kandar chains and convenience stores, including those at petrol stations in the state) will also have to stop giving out free plastic bags on three days in a week which are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Only hawkers and market traders are excluded from the new rule.
Shoppers in Penang will be charged 20 sen
for each plastic bag on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Penang Chief Minister
Lim Guan Eng said the money charged for plastic bags will go to PAP (Partners Against Poverty) Fund to help the poor and
need. He hopes that by
reducing the excessive use of plastic bags can eventually cut down the expenses
on the solid waste management. He strongly encourages people to use their own reusable bags. So that people won’t waste money on buying plastic bags. Besides that people also can save the earth at the same time doing charity.
This campaign will help to save Malaysia’s
environment by creating awareness among the public on the dangers of expansive
use of plastic, reduce or minimize the plastic usage starting from shopping
complexes by using recyclable shopping bags.
After few years, the
result of the usage keep had good responses. Chief
Minister Lim Guan Eng felt that Penang can improve more and the people already
used to no plastic bag day. So he decided to change from every Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays to everyday no plastic bag in the year of 01-01-2011. It’s a big challenge to
people who live in Penang. But after quite sometimes, people who live in Penang
no more complain about it.
Effects of using Plastic bags
Global community must
realize the importance of preserving, protecting and promoting a clean and healthy
environment not only for the investors, tourists and those who desires for
sustainable living, but also for future generation.
The production of plastic bag uses
fossil fuel, petroleum, as its raw material. This is highly unsustainable. In
addition, 99% of the plastic bags are filling up our limited landfill, the
balance 1% ends up in your home's cabinet and much lesser being recycled. These
bags also ends up in our rivers, beaches and those clogging up the drains
caused unnecessary urban issues.
The plastic bag probably won’t end
up in the rubbish bin but in the ocean. These plastic bags are very dangerous
for those marine animals for example turtles, fish, whales,
porpoises and etc. Because of human’s laziness,
they throw plastic bags into sea instead of rubbish bin. The number of dead
animals in sea keeps increasing every year. This might cause sea life become
extinct.
The most common victim is turtles.
Turtles see jelly fish as their food. Many times, they will have mistaken and
eat plastic because the shape of the plastic is more alike jelly fish. They
will swallow it and get toxic from the plastics.
Not only sea life will have this
problem, we human also can get toxic from the fish that has accidentally eaten
plastics. And the toxic is in the fish but sadly human eat fish. So we have a
very high chance to eat toxic too.
The Effects of Plastic Bags on Land
The time of break down the plastics
is very long. It might take probably between 100 to 500 years. This process may
realize carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. The process of break down will
destroy the wildlife. The land litter that is made
up of plastic bags has the potential to kill over and over again. It has been
estimated that one bag has the potential to unintentionally kill one animal per
every three months due to unintentional digestion or inhalation.
Recycling Plastic Bags
Studies have proven that there are
very few plants that actually recycle them. Most of the people burn them or
send them to landfill after sorting. But the result shows that they won’t melt
easily. The cost of recycling is expensive than the plastics.
ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC BAGS
The Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia’s (ENSEARCH) Secretary General, Geetha P. Kumaran says “The plastic bags cannot be replaced with paper bags that are costly. Therefore, the fibre bags are the solution” According to Geetha, still the better solution would be through innovation and green technology.
Online Survey
This campaign is a successful campaign because
80% people who lives in Penang know about this campaign. The high percentage
makes the campaign famous. This campaign is not only famous but also very
successful. Nowadays, less and less people use plastic bags in shopping or
buying things. According to the survey, 53% people now already seldom use
plastic bags. Besides that people who are responsibility, they will bring their
own reuse bag to shop. The percentage of always and sometimes bring their own
reuse bag is 73.4%. While people who seldom and never bring reuse bag is only
26.7%. Not only this, people who wish
and want to bring their reuse bag in the future have 93.3%. It’s a very high
percentage. Furthermore, in this survey, we found out people who need plastic
bags in market (fish market, etc) is more than other places (Supermarkets,
Convenience stores (i.e. Retail stores), Department stores, Bruneian
Functions and Garbage Disposal). But we totally don’t have problem with this.
Because Penang State Government Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said hawkers
and market traders are excluded from the new rule (No Plastic Day). So this
problem is solved. Last but not least, this is why we say this campaign is so
successful. The reason is there is 100% means people totally support this
campaign. They feel that they have the responsibility to take care our
environment.
Survey Forms
Survey 2
Survey 3
Survey 4
Survey 5
Survey 6
Survey 7
Survey 8
Survey 9
Survey 10
Survey 11
Survey 12
Survey 13
Survey 14
Survey 15
References:
Environmental
Development in Malaysia. Kudos For Malaysia’s No Plastic Bag Day Campaign.
Retrieved from http://envdevmalaysia.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/kudos-for-malaysias-no-plastic-bag-day-campaign/
Mydin.
No Plastic Bag Day. Retrieved from http://www.mydin.com.my/mydin/no-plastic-bag-day
Invest
Penang. Manufacturers hit hard by ‘No Plastic Bag’ campaign. Retrieved from http://www.investpenang.gov.my/portal/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1241-manufacturers-hit-hard-by-no-plastic-bag-campaign.html
Dr.
Soliman Fakeeh Hospital. Go Green Campaign. Retrieved from