Monday, May 23, 2011

Shopping companions

They are my 3 green reusable shopping bags. Since I want to go green, it is not enough for me to just use reusable shopping bags - they must be green in colour too.

Nah, I am only joking, not using plastic bags is a good enough move. The government is also doing its part to encourage us to ditch those plastic bags by getting retailers to stop giving out free plastic bags on Saturdays in their nationwide "No Plastic Bags on Saturdays" campaign. Unfortunately the results are not all positive. I overheard this conversation between a couple on a Saturday.

Man: Oh, I think our rice at home is running low, let's go and buy a new pack.
Woman: No, today is Saturday. They will not give us plastic bags. Let's wait till tomorrow.

I guess there is still a long way to go before it becomes a habit for people to use reusable bags. Especially when reusable grocery bags need to be washed carefully and regularly to minimise bacterial contamination.

My green companions
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13 comments:

  1. Alex + MihoMay 23, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    Penang going with No Plastic day EVERYDAY.....

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  2. munMay 24, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Hello A+M, it is very good then. Everyone will be forced to use reusable bags if they do not want to pay for those plastic bags.

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  3. AileenMay 24, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    HK plastic bag levy = HKD 0.50 per bag charged... Hopefully Malaysian sun helps you clean the bags better? We don't get a lot of sun here most of the time :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. munMay 24, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    Hi Aileen, I think here, it costs RM0.20 only so most people will still pay for the plastic bags. The hot sun here does help dry the reusable bags quicker after they're washed.

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  5. What I Did TodayMay 25, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I reuse and recycle the brown paper bags I get at the local grocery store. All of our "green bags" are stuffed with toys at the moment. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. munMay 25, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    Hi Jamie, good to know that you are reusing the brown paper bags!

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  7. "ME N MY MILLION DOLLAR"May 26, 2011 at 1:04 AM

    yes yes yes go green....I always had a green bag in my car...

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  8. JenniferMay 26, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    I go green when shopping too...but if u know me, u know what's the color of my shopping bags...BLUE :P

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  9. munMay 26, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    Hello MNMMD and Jennifer, yes! let's go green or blue as long as it is a reusable bag! :)

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  10. Elizebeth D.L.May 28, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    I don't like plastic bag too, but sometimes I forgot to bring the 环保袋 with me when I go grocery shopping, so have to pay 5 cents for the plastic bag (each) :( I don't like me.

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  11. munMay 28, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    Hi Elizebeth, as long as you have tried to use them as much as you can you are still being green! :)

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  12. RedbabeMay 28, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Instead of charging RM0.20/RM0.50 per bag, they should give discounts if no bags needed. This will definitely encourage this green habit.

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  13. munJune 2, 2011 at 1:48 AM

    Hi Redbabe, what a great idea! :D

    ReplyDelete