Take a look at your surrounding and count how many items are made of plastic. Have you ever noticed how often you go to buy products that come wrapped in plastic?
Though the environment is the closest thing to our lives, we fail to notice how much damage we have contributed to its destruction. The fact is approximately 2 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world, and 50 percent of them were only used once before thrown away. The bad news is most plastic trash ends up in the ocean, making up about 90 percent of all the floating waste, and we have to wait for literally 1,000 years for plastic to eventually degrade. This explains how millions of seabirds and hundreds of marine mammals are killed annually with plastic items inside or around their bodies.
China ranks first on plastic bags consumption with up to 3 billion used daily, and guess which country comes second? Our beloved Indonesia.
Thankfully, the government is aware of this problem and has introduced the #pay4plastic program since last February across Indonesia. The policy requires consumers to pay for Rp 200 (US$0.01) for every plastic bag used in modern shops with a hope that it will discourage people from continuing to use plastic.
However, further individual commitment is essential to reduce plastic bag consumption and Plastic Bag Diet Campaign has provided us some ways to start:
- Appreciate the shops that promote the movement
If you look at the Plastic Bags Diet Campaign’s twitter feed, you’ll find photographs of people taking picture in the shops that charge for plastic bags. It is the least you can do to encourage the shops to keep socializing the plastic bags control and is a simple way to show people that you are supporting the program.
- Using reusable bags
Rather than paying for the plastic bags that will quickly end up being thrown away, bringing your own reusable bags whenever you shop will certainly help.
- Spread the vibe
Many people who are not aware of the problem might argue that the price of the plastic should have been already included in the product price. They’re missing the point. So whenever you encounter this argument, explain to them that the main aim of the program is not money, but awareness of our environment. You might also join the movement by becoming a volunteer to gain more knowledge to advocate the issue and educate more people.
- Petition and donation
Initiating online petition will definitely make a huge change, and donating to the campaign will help to support their attempts to broaden their movement..png)
*Photo by Elfon
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