Green Plus Issu 14

COLUMN
Illinois Sustainable Technology Centre, can
covert one kilogram of plastics into one litre
of petrol, but the production costs is still high.
Approximately one trillion plastic bags used
worldwide in 2014 is equivalent to 120 million
barrels of oil. We Malaysians use over 8 billion
plastics bags annually or one million bags per
minute, thus consuming up to one million
barrels of oil that can be produced.
The ill-effects of plastics are not only limited
to landfills. It is evident even in the mini plastic
bags that are used to fill our hot “teh-tarik” and
coffee. Common chemicals in plastic include
Bisphenol A (BPA),a chemical used in large
quantities in the production of polycarbonate
plastics and epoxy resins phthalates, ink, and
glue that will leach from the plastic into our
favourite drinks. Many Malaysians are ignorant
of this; it is a pity that no agency has come up in
the open to stop these dangerous plastic bags in
circulation especially at the “warongs”, mamak
stalls and coffee shops. Can the Coffee Shop
association or the Ministry of Health immediately
stop these plastics bags from being used
to pack hot and cold drinks.
The Expandable Polystyrene Foam (EPS) is
neither a good alternative for the packaging of
hot drinks. They too bring out their toxic properties
when hot food and drinks are stored in
them. Several thousands of animals especially
fishes, turtles, cattle and birds are also suffering
from these plastic and EPS hazards.
While we could argue continuously on the
good or bad of plastics, the point remains that
it is not the plastics but the attitude of the
users. Plastics too have their role to play. We
can avoid using them for hot food and drink
preparation and servings. We need to look at
the ATTITUDE of mankind. We use the plastics
but throw them back to the co-mingled
waste bin. We must stop throwing plastics anywhere
we like. Instead, gather and send them
for recycling. This attitudinal change will bring
about a significant change to the environment.
Every restaurant operator who renews his
annual licence must undergo a simple training
program to ensure that he/she understands
the ill-effects of plastics so that they
will then look into alternatives. All wedding
and party organisers must also be trained
to think beyond plastic cups and plates; use
alternatives such as glass containers, aluminium
foil, stainless steel containers and cloth
and paper bags. We must emulate McDonalds,
Dunkin Donuts, and Subway in their best practices
with regards to the environment. It is my
dream to hear from the Nasi Kandar Kayu and
Pelita and all our Kopitiam outlets coming out
strongly and making announcements saying
that they will go green by moving away from
plastic cups and plates.
Malaysians must quickly learn and change
for the better, as written byThe New York
Times columnist Tom Friedman, ‘Everyone
has to bring something extra; being average
is no longer enough. Everyone is looking for
employees who critical thinking and problem
solving can do … just to get an interview. What
they are really looking for are people who can
invent, re-invent and re-engineer their jobs
while doing them.’
People who find opportunities in a changing
environment are those who are actively looking
for them. The choice is simple: act or be acted
upon. Since change is the only constant you
can truly rely upon, learning to navigate and
adapt to it is not just important to your survival,
it is essential for you to thrive in the
bigger game of life.
As futurist and philosopher Alvin Toffler
once wrote: “The illiterate of the 21st century
will not be those who cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and
relearn.”
Alvin Toffle is right - in order to save the
future, we must quickly learn, unlearn and
relearn, in making sure that we adopt new ways
in waste management and bring about a better
and greater environment for our children.
Greenplus TM MARCH 2016
57