Singapore have it on every First Wednesday of the Month.
As for Miri, previously they started to have it on Every Sunday.
Later they changed to Friday, Saturday & Sunday--3 days in a row.
No plastic bags for weekend shoppers is no joke. Not only have to bring our own shopping bags, we have problems in buying too many things too. (Boulevard Shopping Mall give out free recycle boxes to replace plastic bags though.)
Happened to forget to bring shopping bags and in the end have to put back most of the chosen stuff from the trolley. The cashier suggested us to pay 20 cents to buy their plastic bag but we chose to buy what we can hold in both hands. (Some customers don't mind paying 20 cents-defeat the purpose of No Plastic Bag Day)
We always reuse those plastic bags as garbage bags. After they started this campaign, we have to avoid shopping during weekend but weekday (I think most of the Mirian are doing the same thing too as supermarkets have more shoppers during weekday compare to weekend nowadays). Due to shortage of plastic bags, we have to buy extra new plastic bags for our rubbish bins. (Can anyone suggest what should we do with our garbage? The garbage collectors will not collect our rubbish if it's not in proper plastic bags.)
Read the newspapers and found out that from May onwards, Miri will start to have NO PLASTIC BAG EVERYDAY. My hubby and I nearly choked for such news.
(Borneo Post - Thursday, November 26th, 2009)
KUCHING: The Kuching City South Council (MBKS) is studying the possibility of introducing biodegradable plastic bags at retail outlets under its jurisdiction.
Mayor James Chan yesterday said biodegradable plastic bags would be a better option than a total ban on the usage of plastic bags in the city.
He said the introduction of biodegradable plastic bags would not burden retailers as the cost was like that of ordinary plastic bags.
“I can easily say ‘no plastic’ but no point. We will embark perhaps in a different manner but still serve the same objective.
“If after certain studies, we feel that the people in Kuching still want plastic, then what we will be suggesting is to use biodegradable plastics,” he told a press conference after chairing a full council meeting.
Chan said he had received emails from the public about the usage of plastic bags and their impact on the environment.
He explained that MBKS would ensure that all projects it implemented would be successful and follow the needs of the people.
“For example, people can’t live without plastic, especially in the Asian region … local people do not change overnight, we need to create awareness but can’t be too drastic,” he said.
On whether MBKS would work with retailers on the project, Chan said: “Can, but we have to know what people want because we are serving the people.
“Whenever we want to implement a programme, I must ensure that it works. Saying that, I don’t mean what other councils are doing is not working.
“We need to have a detailed discussion first.”
Totally agree with Mayor James Chan.Why can't we have biodegradable plastic bags?
I believe it's good to reduce plastic waste and instill recycling habits in the public. However, having this campaign for EVERYDAY is too much. The supermarkets owners should solve this problem by stop 'selling' plastic bags and start using biodegradable plastic bags for all.
Till now, Kuching still provides Plastic Bags EVERYDAY!
i frequent a german chain that requires 25 cents to use a shopping cart (like airport) and i get my coin back after i bring the cart back to the return area nicely stacked with the other carts. in the beginning i found it annoying but after gotten used to it, i have realized not only it made the parking lot free of wandering shopping carts that can potentially cause a dent on your car but also they cut down store expenditure by not having a cart attendant.
ReplyDeletethe same store also don't provide shopping bags, but have choices of paper bag, plastic bag and reusable grocery bag for sale for 5 cents, 15 cents and 1 dollar consecutively. there are plenty of boxes the staff lay next to the check out area so people that are too cheap to pay for bags (me) can use the boxes to carry the grocery. since then there are always boxes lying around the house which i found aggravating me more than anything. so now i bring my own gigantic shoulder bag which i used for school with me whenever i go shop.
these changes come unwillingly but i am glad it happened because it helps me cut down my carbon foot print as i am trying to treat mother earth a little better.
about the garbage problem, my solution is recycle. i cut down the trash in my house by 1/2 after i started doing that. all milk cartons, wine bottles, cans, glass jars, plastic jar etc go to recycle, and biodegradable waste like vegetable/fruit peels, coffee ground, tea leaves, left over etc will go to my compose maker in the yard. my house don't stink no more and i only have to take the trash out once a week, sometimes every other week :)