Plastic bags are widely used around the globe. They are cheap to produce, sturdy and easily available. They can be considered as convenient "vessels" to carry our purchases from a shop to a home. I don't know exactly how much we are using world-wide but i'm sure the number must be huge!!! We use plastic bags for a lot of things. They are so multi-purpose; for storage, to line our dustbins, carry our stuff etc. The sight of plastic bags is so common that it does raise questions about the impact they have on the environment. It has been suggested that plastic bags take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Their impacts on the environment have also inspired and sparked heated debates amongst scientists and environmentalists. Plastic bags thrown away as litter, dirty our public places and may even clog up drains. They are said to clutter landfills. They can be seen flapping from trees! They float in the breeze. It's official people,the totes are everywhere and plastic bags are here to stay!!! We can even see them drift on the high seas. Hello!!! I don't think any other product can beat the common plastic bags!!!
Plate 1. Colourful plastic bags
Plate 2. Totes-o-totes
Why the big concern??? I believe strongly that we use plastic bags in Brunei Darussalam indiscriminately and at a drop of a hat. They are everywhere and are so easily available. Their usage can be very wasteful too. There is this particular supermarket chain that will wrap your purchase in brown paper (don't let me start on paper wastage!!!) before inserting the item into a plastic bag. No matter how hard you protest over this waste -- the tellers always said its the shop's policy!!! What!!! :@ There's also this big retail company that will wrap your purchase into a small plastic bag before inserting them into another plastic bag!!! How daft is that!!! How wasteful!!!???
However, there's light at the end of the tunnel. I notice that there are now reusable bags made available for sale at some supermarket outlets. You know what would be great....aside from the sale of these biodegradable bags, retailers should train their cashiers to ask shoppers in a polite manner if they need a plastic bag for small purchases. However, at the end of the day... it comes down to us. We have the choice!! What can we do to reduce wastage on plastic bags usage??? As a start begin to limit and eventually stop consumption of plastic bags. Bring your own bag when you go shopping! Say ‘No’ to plastic bags when buying only a few small items. Do not throw away excess plastic bags as a waste item. Reuse or recycle them.
Mantra-o-mantra "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle"
