INSTEAD OF USING POLYSTYRENE/PLASTIC/NEWSPAPER FOR TAKEOUT FOODS, SHOULD MALAYSIA CHANGE IT TO THE USE OF FOOD CONTAINERS AND BOTTLE TUMBLER?

Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts

by Nur Farah Hazwani

The usage of polystyrene, plastic and newspaper recorded highest usage in restaurant or stall. In addition, our nature “already” destroy because of non-biodegradable materials. According to National Geographic in every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world. Furthermore, plastic is ubiquitous because of people who lack of humanity towards animals and responsibilities as human itself by directly dumping trash into the nearest river or lake, plastic is growing increasingly common in the world’s oceans [1]. 

According to Forbes, plastic trash is found in the guts of more than 90% of the world’s sea birds, in the stomachs of more than half of the world’s sea turtles, and it’s even choking the life out of whales. At the rate at which plastic is accumulating in the oceans of the planet, it’s predicted that, by 2050, the mass of plastic in the world’s oceans will exceed the mass of all the fish that live there. Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issue, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them [2].

Inforgraphic source from Switch your straw

             

Source: Change.org

Source: Forbes

8 reasons to use food containers and reusable water bottles:

·         The environment friendly.

Because nowadays plastics issues has been critical among the entire world such as it kill many maritime lives. You can stop your own contributions to this environmentally damaging waste of resources by owing own reusable bottle and containers.  

·         Save your money

You will save money by having your own reusable bottle and containers rather than you will buy it every day. It will be pricy for you. Once you have your own you will used it for again and again. 

·         Control the water sources.

Know exactly where your water comes from and exactly what you’re putting into your body. No matter where you go, there is almost always somewhere to safety fill your reusable bottle. Tap water is remarkable safe across the developed world. 

·         The healthier choice

Some of disposal plastic water bottle contained BPA and will harm your water taste and quality. By exposed it under high temperature also can spill the chemical taste inside your water. In contrast, reusable water bottle like stainless steel and glass are the best because it contained BPA free. They leave your water just as fresh and delicious as when you poured it. 

·         Drink/eat what you want, the way you want and whenever you want.

The right chosen of reusable bottle can save your beverages or even hot soup then spilled over all places. With a good quality of the products can keep your iced chocolate frappe cool and porridge hot, also you can carry them anywhere you want maybe to the school, office and even to travel. 

·         Cleanable and reusable.

Reusable water bottles and containers is amazing product own by the lazy one, like me. The ability to clean and actually reuse your reusable bottles and containers are great because most of this products are dishwasher friendly. 

·         Long lasting durability

Stainless steel containers or water bottle is good for camping or travel for instance. If you keep it and maintained properly, it will last you for a years. If you buy it today maybe you can used it for two years next. 

·         More convenient

This products are so much convenient. If you have one and remember to used it while you always have your drink and foods or when someone else need it. You will always exactly know the contents are and using it again and again. Properly cared for the products, will lasting the investment in your everyday convenient.  

 

Should Malaysia change it to the use of food containers and bottle tumbler?

This are comments conducted from an interview session:

 -Farhira Faruddin, student-

[Instead of using non-biodegradable materials for takeout food, I believe that Malaysia government needs to start implementing laws and regulations for Malaysians to start bringing their own food containers and bottle tumblers at restaurants and food outlets. This is because those items such as plastic/polystyrene would take many years to be broken down and this will only pollute the earth even more. Furthermore, this new change will save costs for both the business and the consumers as well.]

        

         -Aliah Atiqah Binti Ahmad Aishom, student-

[Yes, Malaysia should definitely change it to food containers and tumblers because it is more eco-friendly and we can reuse it in a safe manner rather than having chemicals mixed up with our food. Also, it is easy to heat the food up and is safer for our health.]

      -Nur Syamimie Suhaila binti Samsudin, student-

[Yes, I think Malaysia needs to change the way it is used to pack food by using polystyrene to bring the own food container and bottle tumbler. This is because not only it can prevent from an unauthorized disposal of food containers, it is also able to guarantee cleanliness when using its own food container. Using of food containers can make your food last longer for example, if you put hot or cold beverages inside you tumbler it makes your drink keep in it current temperature rather than use disposal cups. And you can fill your drink as much as you want following the size of the tumbler.]

1.      Laura Parker. National Geographic. The world's plastic pollution crisis explained. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/plastic-pollution/

2.      April 23, 2018. GrrlScientist. Five Ways That Plastics Harm The Environment (And One Way They May Help). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2018/04/23/five-ways-that-plastics-harm-the-environment-and-one-way-they-may-help/#6907676e67a0