Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working to educate the public on the effects of plastic on humans and flora and fauna.It is ultimately up to us to conserve the environment by not using plastic. Over the past few years, the government and other authorities have taken steps to clamp down on the use of plastics. The use of Styrofoam packages has been minimised as not many eateries are providing them. Besides that, shoppers used to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag bought at shopping malls on Saturdays. Now, they pay 20 sen regardless of the day. This has instilled better awareness in Malaysians to bring their own bags when they go shopping.The use of plastic straws is also declining as many eateries are not offering them. Many customers who buy food from stalls and restaurants are bringing their own containers, especially stainless steel containers. This is practised by the dabbawalas in India, who deliver lunches. Stainless steel containers keep the food warm and are healthier. Malaysians should use their own containers when buying takeaways. Eateries should give a discounted rate to those who bring containers.Malaysia chaired the inaugural Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) summit in November, so it will be good for us to start the year by eradicating plastic waste. Of the 17 SDGs, not one focuses on plastic or plastic waste. Goal No. 3 of the SDG is to ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all.

One of its goals is to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination by 2030. Since plastic cannot biodegrade, it will be ever present in the air, water and soil unless we eliminate plastic waste. Similarly, goal No. 12 is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Among its goals is to achieve the environmentally-sound management of chemicals and waste, reducing their release into air, water and soil. Other SDGs include goal No. 6 on water and sanitation; No. 13 (climate action); No. 14 (life below water) and No. 15 (life on land). These touch on the environment and provide humans and living things with livable surroundings. The issue that consumers need to look at is waste management and for the authorities to collect and dispose of plastic waste at recycling centres. It sounds simple, but if we play our part, we can leave the next generation a plastic waste-free nation.

Corporate companies are doing their part to eradicate waste. Petronas Chemicals Group has embarked on a mission to turn plastic waste into energy, high quality polymer as well as plastic to-plastic products. Collaborating with other oil and gas companies, it plans to produce new energy or low carbon fuel by creating a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant. Besides that, it has ventured into Solid Waste Modular Advanced Recovery and Treatment to provide support for WTE by increasing the intake of plastic waste. The company’s four pillars in plastic waste management are education, cleaning, infrastructure and innovation. It is paying more attention to the first two pillars. The nation needs more of these companies to educate the public about plastic waste and to clean up plastic waste. The government should encourage more companies to participate in projects related to educating and cleaning plastic waste. There are also associations and NGOs collecting plastic and other reuseable waste. We have an obligation to keep the world safe for the next generation.

Let us make our nation free of plastic waste.

BASKARAN SITHAMPARAM

Senior manager, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations