Citizen's Blog

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

So hard to bring your own plastic bags?
Posted by: itsf00
Bring your own plastic bag every Monday - Reduce waste, reuse, recycle campaign kick off yesterday in Penang 6th July 2009.
The cashier counter staff at Cold Storage Gurney Plaza was almost in tear when scolded by customers for not providing plastic bags. Tell me your experience.

Comments

Its a good practise.should layout such good plan to kl area as well.

The person who scolded the cashier sure embaress her/himself so much....because its for good deed without plastic and the whole nation knows on the plan..someone in Penang not aware?? funny!
By leorusyun, 7-Jul-2009
Malaysians are very slow when it comes to learning to conserve on using plastic bags. That's the reality. Many other countries have already been practising bring your own bag for years, even developing nations. The most tragic sight for me is seeing perfectly reusable plastic bags being thrown away indiscriminately in public areas, thereby posing a littering problem as well.
By kindsir, 7-Jul-2009
I thought plastic bags should still be available, but only to be charged 20cents per bag. Isn't that the new policy? Anyway, those customers are useless people for scolding the cashier. As I expected, the new policy would take much much more time as there are too many brainless folks out there who don't give a damn about environment. SAD CASE
By lbkooi, 7-Jul-2009
My experience is that malaysians on the whole are a bloody lot who does everything in their power to destroy the environment!

They only care about themselves.

Narcissistic people at the very core.
By johngomez, 7-Jul-2009
i've tried to take along my own bags, but not so easy. i could not anticipate the volume of things i buy, always not enough space, still have to use one or two plastics..
By woody_invincible, 7-Jul-2009
Just try to bring more plastic bags, or buy it for 20cents only. I don't think it's even considered as a cost compared to all the things we buy. Why can't some people understand the tragic horrors that are happening to the innocent mother nature?

Start going green already!
By itsf00, 7-Jul-2009
on second thought,
i knew those carrying bags provided by supermarkets are mostly made from starch, they can disintegrate in a short time.

we should be looking at the plastics used in the packaging of the goods itself, like those for snacks, chips, rice, sugar, etc.

i see that many imported biscuits and cookies use paper packaging.

the big black rubbish bags we use is also very bad for the environment..
By woody_invincible, 7-Jul-2009
Johngomez,

Are you trying to tell us that only Malaysians on the whole are a bloody lot and there are none of those what so ever from whichever little tiny rat hole you came from? Give me a break and I do not disagee with you that there are Malaysians who don't care and not forgetting, there are those who care! Is it right to slam every Malaysian across the board? Coming to the point of narcissistic people, I guess it takes one to know another one!
By Belacan57, 7-Jul-2009
Which is why recently it is a trend for businesses to go green with their product's ingredients, packaging, and maybe logistic measures. This not only shows that they are willing to sacrifice for the environment, but it makes consumers feel that they are sensitive to their customers' health as well, which is good.

As consumers, we should support recycled or green products, and also campaigns such as the one mentioned.
By itsf00, 7-Jul-2009
Customers at hypermarts also help themselves to unlimited amount of plastic bags for their veg and other groceries. They should be charged too!
By cheahth54, 7-Jul-2009
Did you come to the cashier's rescue?
By hooiluangoh, 7-Jul-2009
In South Australia plastic bags are banned from all supermarkets and department stores. They will sell you a good quality cloth bag for $2 (very cheap)if you forget to bring your own bag. No body complain and the practise is set to be introduce country wide.

I doubt all the plastic shopping bags in Msia are made out of starch. That technology is pretty new and expensive. But I could be wrong.

The amount of plastic bags everywhere in Malaysia is shocking.
By ahvincent, 7-Jul-2009
Customers who scolded the cashier are just ****** (lost for word).
By bernard8, 7-Jul-2009
I agree with woody. Most plastic bags in use now are biodegradable. Unlike the older, petroleum-based plastic bags which pose a hazard to the environment, modern organic based plastic disintegrates after a certain time span. A local university team is actually trying to extend its life span, in fact.

So, don’t be too overly concerned about leaving your carbon footprint with plastics. Do have more faith in science and high tech.

By the way, has anyone ever been sick and taken a lot of panadols? Don’t be surprised that you are indirectly consuming “petroleum” to cure yourself. Panadol is a by-product of petroleum ( a hydro-carbon compound).
By cheaman, 7-Jul-2009
The supermarket should provide these inexpensive bags [made from recycled materials] free of charge to the customers. The additional cost [compared to plastic bags] could be shared between the supermarket and their suppliers. The main suppliers like Milo, Danone, Colgate, etc., could use these bags to advertise their company or products instead of printing many leaflets and catalogs.

Asking the buyer to bring his own bag is certainly unfair and unfriendly. Better still, the people who insist on this measure to save the world fork out the money for this campaign. I agree that it is good in the long run, but please do not do it at the expense of the [now suffering] consumers.
By ngguanhuah, 7-Jul-2009
yup cheaman...its true...in fact in long consumtion of panadol could have very high chances to damage your kidney, problems like kidney stones or gall bladder stones... :(
By leorusyun, 7-Jul-2009
Malaysians on the whole are WORKING on to SAVE the ENVIRONMENT!

Many Klang Valley residence already bringing own "Environmental Bags" when shopping and own containers when go for "Ta Pau".

Some people just dont understand, I do not blame them as they have been getting free plastic bags for years = convenient, now they to bring their own = inconvenient.

It takes sometime for them to kick off the old habit. But is a good start for everyone.

If you want to make this world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and MAKE THE CHANGE
-MJ-

THANK YOU FOR CONSERVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

"XIE XIE NI HUAN BAU"
By corbazone, 7-Jul-2009
ngguanhuah,

I feel that it is reasonable to charge consumers for plastic bags. Because some people will carry the "tak apa" mindset if not charged. It takes their own $ to remind them better. I'm sure many businesses will take this as another source of income, but if it helps the environment, how bad it is?

hooiluangoh,

I quote this from a facebook post by 'George Town, Penang', which means I couldn't rescue the cashier. =/

woody_invincible and cheaman,

Are those bio-degradable plastic bags widely used or do they even exist in Malaysia? Just interested to know.
By itsf00, 7-Jul-2009
Yes, it will take time educated everyone, unless there are rewards or punishment! Tesco gives green points for each bag you bring on your own and IKEA charges you for each plastic bag! Great! When will others follow one way or the other?
By victorchew46, 7-Jul-2009
To kindsir and bernard8, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT!
By darren5261, 7-Jul-2009
hi! ngguanhuah,
I totally agree with you that a business venture cannot ask consumers to bring their own 'bags' for packaging.
They are not supplying plastic bags because they want to reduce waste,yet, they want the consumers to bring these plastic bags!!!Is this a joke???
By stevenlim1234, 7-Jul-2009
They should charge RM 2-3 per bag .. then these people will learn.

I've just return fm overseas, 3 weeks ago, supermarket charged me for USD 1.50/Per Paper Bag. Since I was a visitor & had to use 1, I'll to pay.

A lot of people, some even rich & educated ... still have not learn the destruction humans are causing to mother earth. I've seen people in new E Class Benz & BMW 5 series, throwing plastic bags & waste fm their windows WHILE DRIVING !!!

Feel like picking up & throw back into their own car, but was on a moving traffic.
By concerncitizen, 7-Jul-2009
ngguanhuah, you're right.

those large corporations could easily afford the financing of distributing recycleable bags, they reap so much profit, doesn't hurt to 'pull two hairs' from their earnings to do something for the country.

if they make those in bulk, doesn't cost much also. no need to make extra buck on those items right?
By woody_invincible, 7-Jul-2009
itsf00, it is, for sure.
most of the carrying bags i have at home, sometimes used to pack old things in the storeroom, after some time you find them disintegrated to dust and shreds.
those small flimsy, orangish carrying bags you get from grocers and hawkers, they are mainly made of starch.
i have more worry about the toys from MacD's, plastic packaging for most of the goods we buy, etc.
if you intend to use black rubbish bags, use the flimsy ones (but the problem arises, when stray dogs or starving illegals ransack the rubbish for leftovers) instead of the hardy ones.

to overcome the stray dogs problem, i mostly pack the organic wastes(like prawn shells, fish bones,insides, and wet,sloppy wastes) in old newspaper properly before putting them in the carrying bags for disposal, that way, no odour.
By woody_invincible, 7-Jul-2009
Hey, now that I read what woody wrote, it makes sense! Huge businesses should provide environment-friendly bags! Or it might just be another solution. Because by then, hypermarkets will be graded and determined whether they are profitable enough to provide these more costly bags, is it? Then more corruption will take place.. *headache*

Is there any clean solution? Suggestions?

I want to try to compile the suggestions and post it in en.cap.org.my (Consumers Association Penang)
By itsf00, 7-Jul-2009
I always tot of getting one of the green bag sold by Tesco...but thinking back, my wife would scold me cuz we need the plastic bag to throw rubbish without additional cost. Hmm I think the gomen must do something boout the rubbish collection too.They wont take away our rubbish without plastic bag.
By gerrick, 7-Jul-2009
Bought sundries from Carrefour Tropicana that came to around RM130 and received 4 recycleable bags.
This giveaway is only valid for weekends and at selected counters only.
We are definitely going to bring along the 4 bags to use in our future purchases.

Since shoppers save these outlets a substantial amount of $$, Carrefour Tropicana could go an extra mile as to offer free parking for the 1st 2hours to shoppers using the bags and probably minimum purchases of RM50?

I have reservations on using these bags for fresh meat and fish though.
No problem in bringing my old plastic bags from home but when supplies finish, buy thermal bags to store these produce? Probably that is the best answer as I am definitely not going to contaminate my bags with them.
By the way, also ensure to bring old plastic bags that are still in good condition to avoid leaks to the woven bags.
By sue3008, 7-Jul-2009
Malls and hypermarkets should start producing paper bags for consumers at no cost.At the meantime consumers whom are worried about plastic bags should reshedule their shopping/marketing to other days accept Mondays.
By wwjd88, 7-Jul-2009
The brown paper bags with two string "handles" can last a few shopping trips if it does not contain wet items or heavy canned items.

When I was young we used to fold these bags and stick a piece of cardboard to the rectangular base and string up the "handle". We were "sub-contractors" then [ahem!] and earn piece-rates basing on the number of bags we make. The "main-con" will deliver the cut sheets, cut strings and glue to us in the morning and pick up the finished goods in the evening. I think we were paid something like 2 sen per small bag and 3 sen for the big ones - and get cold hard cash every evening.

It was so nice to see grandma, aunty, mum, nephew [who just got back from school] and members of the family and even neighbours sitting in a circle folding, gluing, stringing, stacking. It was really gotong-royong and there was cheerful chattering, gossips and jokes to keep everyone happy.

The supermarket can outsource this to the orphanages, childrens' home and even old folks home and let them earn some income. This is good social responsibility and in return more people will shop in their supermarkets. Save the environment - save the poor - get a good name. Really a WIN-WIN-WIN situation. Think about it!
By ngguanhuah, 7-Jul-2009
Typical malaysian (or at least some from the above), expecting everything to be free or sponsored.

What's RM2-3 per bag in the name of the environment? Is that too much? Teach them to be environmentaly conscious.

By londongal, 8-Jul-2009
Another case of 'selfish' Malaysian.

ngguanhuah:
Do you know that the paper bags used in hardware shops cost 20sen each. With greedy shoppers, even paper bags they SAPU.

On the other hand, paper do not biodegrade in landfill. Do the experiment yourself, take 1 piece of newspaper, plant it in your garden, dig it up in 1 year time.

People in New York have dug up 50 year old newspaper in their landfill.

So called biodegradable plastic bags are not safe if in case they find their way into the water system.

Malaysia Gov should learn something from Singapore Gov in trash management :
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/5/16/lifefocus/3781372&sec=lifefocus

At the sametime, people can reduce.

I do hope the hyper can release the CCTV of the SHOPPER to youtube, let the whole world see how uneducated some people are.
By citiranger, 8-Jul-2009
Yeah, citiranger, some selfish and greedy [kiasu] customers will sapu everything and anything that they do not have to pay for. Even check bank-in envelopes are taken in stacks and always end up in the rubbish bin.

I always thought that bags made from recycled cellulose materials are biodegradable and degrades faster than plastics. Thanks for the info.
By ngguanhuah, 8-Jul-2009
Why only on Monday and not every single day? I think it's their own fault for not wanting/remembering to bring their bags.

I say we make every single supermarket in our country provide fabric/cloth bags with a price or provide none so that consumers could learn their lesson. We MUST ELIMINATE PLASTIC.

I don't think the plastic bags from supermarkets (Tesco, Giant, Carefour etc.) are biodegradable, it only disintegrate but in at least 300 years (A LONG TIME).

I bought 7 large reusable bags (brown) made of fabric from Jusco. I bring 5 of it when I shop with my family, it's sufficient for a full kart of items. And I wash them after every single usage. The bags cost RM4.90 each but it worth much more than that. It's clean and VERY STRONG. Once it contained bottles of drink and cans of milk. So consider it if you care for the environment.

TOGETHER, we can help our COUNTRY, the EARTH and FUTURE MANKIND and god knows (even though I'm a free thinker) :)!!!
By wongtw, 3-Aug-2009
I believe the plastic shopping bags in our country are mainly made of polyethylene or polythene (PE). It is not environmentally friendly but can be recycled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_bag

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene

If possible, I hope to use my Jusco reusable bags for my entire life :]. Then I would recycle them or pass it on to my sons and future generations.
By wongtw, 4-Aug-2009
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November 2009