WHETHER THE USED OF FOOD CONTAINERS AND BOTTLE TUMBLERS SHOULD BE CONTINUED NOT ONLY TO MAINTAIN HYGIENE BUT ALSO TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Source: Medical News Today

by Farah Hazwani

During this though day to fights against Covid-19, majority of people were concerning about their hygiene all over the places. In addition, a new normal essentials such as face mask and hand sanitizer already be our best friend forever. We all know this virus or bacteria been spread by touching contaminated surfaces or objects. If a person sneeze or cough to it, highest possibility will affects others. This Covid-19 virus can last long at plastics for about 72 hour while on cardboard for about 24 hours. It also the same with food containers and bottles, where it can be the places for virus breeding if you are not concerning about hygiene. 

Other than the hygiene itself, products are made from plastics are being serious issue in our world for a long time ago. Human being becoming a cancer on the planet by making our nature as prey. There billions of products including bottles, containers, shopping bags, bubble wrap, wire, diapers and trash bins are dumped into our beach. According to that, a global prohibition would need to be strictly enforced. The right policies and regulations can promote high rates of recycling and prevent plastic waste in public spaces. By creating a more sustainable world demands effective management of plastic waste, innovations toward eco-friendly substitutes, and monetary incentives to help clear the plastic debris. It also calls for reducing consumer demand for environmentally harmful products that also generate a lot of plastic waste, like bottled water. Without urgent action to arrest the problem, more people might be dying from cancer and other environmental diseases [1].

Source: The Japan Times 

To save our environment from plastic pollution getting more serious, Malaysia government already respond and take a few steps to save our world through campaigns. For those who unconsciously known Malaysia has conducted campaigns to save our world by imposed higher charges for the using of plastics bags in supermarket. On each plastics bags are used in supermarket were charged to 0.20 sen. While, in Penang they charged the fee of each plastic bags up to 0.50 sen. In addition, there are many companies and states supporting this actions for zero plastics waste. Moreover, not just banning the plastics bags being organized here but also government already stopped the using of plastics straw all over the restaurants. Luckily now, in Malaysia especially at fast food restaurant has been supporting this campaigns by stopped the used of plastics straw. So the customers are suggested to bring their own reusable straw or just sip through cups. 

Source: The Star

Source: Miami Beach Times

SHOULD MALAYSIA CHANGE THE PRACTICE OF USING PLASTICS PACKAGING TO THE USING OF FOOD CONTAINERS & BOTTLE TUMBLER?

Here are the comments/opinions received through interview session:

- Nur Adha, student-
[The usage of food containers should be continued, not only in a short term but in a long term plan. As mention, it can helps to maintain hygiene and save the environment. If we used polystyrene packages, its take times to dispose, cause pollution and waste will occurred. In addition, if we used our own food containers it will save our cost, save environment and helps to reduce pollution. Pollution occurred because of the using of plastic and polystyrene, so with the using of food container, indirectly we get to save our world that nearly to the end and stay away from air pollution because of the burning of plastics products. If we maintained the usage of food containers, we get to reduce all these problems even though not hundred percent of it but it one of our good effort to help the earth and the environment healthy.]

 - Umar Alif Haikal, student-

[Yes, the use of food containers and tumblers should be maintained to keep ourselves in a preserve hygienic state and also to save our environment from unwanted chemicals and waste that can ruin the ecosystem of planet earth.]

 -Umar Ali Hafiz, public workers-

[Yes, we should allow people to start using their own food containers and bottle tumblers at restaurants in order to help reduce the pollution. The containers bought should also be kept clean and hygienic for further uses and prevent from contamination of bacteria and viruses. Also, this method will help improve the plastic-free zero waste lifestyle among Malaysians that has been proven as a way to reduce climate impact.]