Green Sense latest project “Green Living Union in Yau Tsim Mong 2021″ is sponsored by the Yau Tsim Mong District Council. Green Ambassadors from all ethnicities will apply what they have learnt earlier, in order to help promote the messages of Green Living in the district.

From 18th September 2021 to 31st October 2021, Green Sense will organize 5 environmental activities in schools and the community. By providing free talks and workshops, we hope to let students and residents acquire environmental knowledge as well as live a green life.

Free Talks and Workshops

We will organize 5 environmental activities in schools and the community.
Interested organizations are welcomed!

Target: School and community centre in Yau Tsim Mong District (with non-Chinese speaking participants will be prioritized)
Quota: 5 (First-come-first-serve basis)
Date: 18/9/2021 – 31/10/2021
Activity content (One of the followings):
(1) Waste Reduction Talk
(2) Eco-enzyme Workshop
(3) Used Banner Upcycling Workshop
(4) Handmade Recycled Paper Workshop

ENROLL NOW: https://bit.ly/3gqfHOU

Green Living On-street Promotion

5 Bilingual promotion days will be held for waste reduction and recycling education. The details are listed as below:

24/9/2021 (Fri), 15/10/2021 (Fri) 14:30-16:30
Public pavement outside Yau Tsim Mong Multicultural Activity Centre, Yau Mai Tei

29/9/2021 (Wed), 13/10/2021 (Wed) 14:30-16:30
Public pavement near Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station Exit C

20/10/2021 (Wed) 14:30-16:30
Public pavement outside Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard, Tsim Sha Tsui

Free of charge! No registration is required.

An eco-friendly soap made from waste cooking oil as a souvenir will be given on a First-come-first served basis.

See you all in Yau Tsim Mong soon!!

Green Sense conducted a survey regarding the packaging of local online shopping in May to June 2021. 17 on-street survey and recycling station were set up.  209 entries were collected from the station and online. This survey is to study the current online shopping habit of Hong Kong citizens, the amount of packaging materials stemmed from online shopping, and post-consumption action taken. Measurements were taken in the station, in order to find out the adhesive tape usage in online shopping. The key findings are listed in the following:

1. Over-packaging is more severe, with weaken awareness in general
   Summing up 828 items purchased, 1441 pieces of packings were used. the average packing materials used was 2.32, 6% increased compared to 2.18 pieces in 2020. The worst case was 9.5 units of packaging materials used for one item. At the same time, only 35% respondents agreed their merchandises were severly over-packaged. A decrease in 16% was remarkable. (51% shared the same view in 2020).
2. Merchandises are wrapped in mixed materials which is hard to recycle
   Single online purchase used 2.71 different materials for packaging in average. 26.5% interviewee stated there were at least 4 types of packaging materials used in their orders. To the extreme, 9 different materials were found, including carton box, bubble wrap, delivery plastic bag, adhesive tape, honeycomb bubble bag, foam filling, air bag, wrapping paper and newspaper. Distinguishing recyclable materials would not be easy for citizens when an array of different packaging materials came at once. Some respondents used to think only paper is recyclable, other materials were trashed instead of being recycled.
3. The abuse of Adhesive tapes were common
   49 samples were taken to measure the use of adhesive tapes and the dimension of carton boxes. 24 of them were used more than 2.5 times in a ratio of the length of the tape used to the box dimension. Areas away from the edge were covered by adhesive tape.
4. Respondents hope online shops can reduce unnecessary packagings
   Over 70% of the respondents hope online shops can reduce unnecessary packagings. At least 46% respondents opted for other environmental-friendly means: Select recyclable materials for packaging, use recycled materials for packaging, recycle and reuse pre-owned packagings. Some of them wished the recycling point can set up at the retail stores and delivery collection point.

Full-time Research Officer

Job Duties

1. Formulating and assisting campaigns to raise public awareness in urban planning, green building and tree conservation
2. Gathering and analyzing information
3. Responding promptly to environment and city planning policies
4. Communicating closely with different parties, writing submissions and opinions
5. Drafting texts and graphics for online platforms
6. Outdoor field work and research
7. Providing assistance for office operation and environmental activities

Requirements

• Graduates from Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Journalism, Social Science or relevant fields are preferred
• Good knowledge and sensitive to urban planning, building and environmental issues
• 1-2 years working experiences is an advantage
• Outdoors and flexible working hours may be required
• Good at information collection, able to work independently
• Proficiency in computer skills to complete job duties

Interested candidates please apply with (1) full resume, (2) present and expected salary and (3) 300 words commenting on urban planning in Hong Kong by e-mail (info@greensense.org.hk) on or before Friday, 27th Nov., 2020.

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Full-time Project Assistant

Job Duties

1. Mainly be responsible for waste reduction, environmental education and related activities
2. Communicating with the Government, public and private sectors, schools, other NGOs & the community
3. Assisting events such as workshop, seminar, ecotour
4. Handling online promotion such as maintaining website, social media platforms and advertising
5. Supporting events on weekends and outdoor occasionally

Requirements

• 1-2 years working experience are desired, environmental volunteering and working experiences are greatly considered
• Tertiary education graduate in relevant field such as Geography, Environmental Science or Biology related preferred
• Basic skill in popular graphic software (e.g. Photoshop or illustrator) is an advantage
• Immediate available is highly preferred

Interested candidates please apply with (1) full resume, (2) present and expected salary and (3) 300 words commenting on HK waste reduction by email (info@greensense.org.hk) on or before Wednesday, 25th Nov., 2020.

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Temporary Researcher

Job Duties

1. Formulating and assisting campaigns to raise public awareness in tree conservation and waste reduction
2. Outdoor field work and research
3. Gathering and analyzing information
4. Drafting texts and graphics for online platforms

Requirements

• Studying or Graduates in Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Journalism, Social Science or relevant fields are preferred
• Good knowledge and sensitive to tree conservation and waste reduction
• Outdoors and flexible working hours may be required
• Able to work independently
• Proficiency in computer skills to complete job duties
• Immediate available is highly preferred

Interested candidates please apply with (1) full resume, (2) present and expected salary and (3) 300 words description on any previous research assisted (related to Tree conservation or waste reduction suggested) by e-mail (info@greensense.org.hk) on or before Friday, 27th Nov., 2020.

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Community Recycling Ambassador

Job Duties

1. Promoting “Waste Reduction at source” and Clean Recycling”
2. Assisting events such as recycling workshop and on-street promotion
3. Introducing waste separation and recycling procedures to the members of the public
4. Supporting events on weekends and outdoor occasionally

Requirements

• Studying or Graduates in Geography, Environmental Science or Environmental Protection relevant fields are preferred
• Recycling working or educational experience, environmental volunteering or working experiences are greatly considered
• Outgoing and talkative is an advantage
• Available in Dec is highly preferred

Interested candidates please apply with (1) full resume, and (2) present and expected salary by email (info@greensense.org.hk) on or before Wednesday, 25th Nov., 2020.

*Green Sense office is an air condition-free working environment around the year

Three Paper Two Plastics

China, Hong Kong SAR government emphasized on educating the public to recycle the clean “Three Paper Two plastics” into household, workplace and roadside recycling system respectively. “Three paper” indicates cardboard, newspaper and office paper, while “Two Plastics” indicated beverage plastic bottles and personal care product plastic bottles. Accordingly, the usual recycling bins that appeared on roadside and estates could only accept “Three Paper and Two Plastics” (except the estates participated in the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme).

Image 1: “Three Paper Two Plastics” (Three Paper: Newspaper, Office Paper and Cardboard). Source: Hong Kong Waste Reduction Website [2]

Image 2: “Three Paper Two Plastics” (Two plastics: Beverage plastic bottles and Personal care product plastic bottles). Source: Hong Kong Waste Reduction Website [2]

Other plastics except the “Two Plastics”

Apart from the “Two plastics” mentioned above, there are generally seven types of plastics, in which six of them could be recycled:

• No.1 (PET)*: Beverage Bottle Lid, Plastic Cup etc., where a concave and big dot could be found on the bottom of the bottle.
• No.2*: Laundry Soap, Laundry Softener, Shower Gel Bottle etc., where a horizontal interface could be found on the bottom of the bottle.
• No.3 (PVC): Cling Wrap, Raincoat etc. This type of plastic will release harmful chemicals when it encounters combustion. There is currently a lack of technology in treating this type of plastic in Hong Kong.
• No.4 (LDPE): Plastic Bag with handle, Tissue Bag, Fruit Net, Bubble Wrap
• No.5 (PP): Microwaved Food Container, Bottle Lid, Transparent Bag
• No.6 (PS): CD Case, Yakult Bottle, Polyfoam, Plastic Cup Lid (Translucent)
• No.7: CD, Acrylic, Polycarbonate PC, Resin Cutlery

*Bottle Lid and Label belongs to different types of plastics, and therefore separate recycling is required.

Public and citizens may visit “Community Green Stations” (CGS) for recycling the plastics listed above (No.1-No.7, excluding No.3 & Polyfoam).

For detail of CGS, please visit: https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/community/cgs_intro.htm

Polyfoam

Polyfoam is commonly utilized for single use food container, filler of the packaging etc. In spite of the wide variety of distinct polyfoam, a lot of them could be recycled. For example:

• Disposable food container (Rinse out food and oil stain before recycling)
• Polyfoam Packaging Box
• Foam Fruit Net
• Packaging Buffer/ Polyfoam EPS Board
• Packing peanuts and Filler

The collected polyfoam will be compressed and go through a number of recycling processes, eventually transformed into recycled PS/ PE materials.

Details of Polyfoam recycling stations, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/polyfoamrecyclinghk/

Image 3: Diagram for distinguishing Recyclable and Non-recyclable Polyfoam. Source: Polyfoam Recycling Scheme

Paper Package Drinks Recycling

In 2018, the daily average of carton-boxes disposal amount was 67 tonne in Hong Kong [3]. Many have misunderstood that paper-packaged drinks cannot be recycled, which, in reality, they could be recycled!

Simple steps to recycling paper-packaged drinks:

• Step 1: remove plastic straw and wrapping
• Step 2: Cut and flatten the carton
• Step 3: Rinse with water*
• Step 4: Place into recycling sites:  MilMill recycling stations**

* Before recycling, it is important to clean the cartons with water. If the cartons are contaminated, mould may develop in the processing stage, rendering the recycled material spoiled garbage.

**For more paper-packaged drinks carton collection points, please visit Mil Mill’s collection point map:  bit.ly/MilMillMap

Image 4. A Guide to Recycling Paper Packaged Drinks

More details about Green Sense Charity Event: Drink Carton Boxes Recycling Programme, please visit: http://greensense.org.hk/en/?p=5575

Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme

The Environmental Protection Department has initiated the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme early on in January of 2020, with an aim to expand the category of existing recyclables and increase the numbers of recycling facilities, so as to prepare the rising number of recyclables in Hong Kong in the future. The two-year Pilot scheme is rolled out through which contractors are engaged under service contracts to provide free collection service for waste plastics from registered premises for non-commercial and non-industrial sources such as public and private housing estates, schools and public institutions, Community Recycling Centres and CGSs in the districts [4].

A wide range of recyclables can be collected under the Pilot Scheme, including plastic bags (e.g. carrier bags, rice bags, plastic packaging bags), plastic containers (e.g. plastic bottles, plastic buckets, plastic boxes, microwave containers, yogurt cups, tofu boxes), polyfoam (e.g. fruit nets, polyfoam boxes, protective polyfoam materials), plastic tableware, plastic straws, CDs, bubble wraps and other plastic packaging materials [4].

The contractor – Success Grand Environmental Limited will undertake the Pilot Scheme in Eastern District that have progressively commenced since late January 2020, while the pilot scheme in Kwun Tong and Sha Tin districts are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2020.  Take Success Grand Environmental Limited as an example, the contractor will allocate the collected recyclable plastics from over 70 collection points in Eastern District to Yuen Long Recycling Centre [5]. The recyclable plastics are undergoing further process such as sorting, crashing and granulating into plastic raw materials or recycled plastic products. They will be exported or supplied to the local and overseas market so as to ensure that the waste plastics collected are properly handled.

Image 5: Different types of recyclable plastics under the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme. Source: The Environmental Protection Department

Image 6: The Recycling Bin under the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme

The Public and private estates that have in the pilot scheme are able to recycle plastics and polyfoam with No.1-2, 4-7 in the designated collection bins.

The collection points in Eastern district are listed here: https://eastern.successgrand.com.hk/recycleBin.html

As the pilot scheme in Kwun Tong and Sha Tin district will be launched in the third quarter of 2020, and therefore, we recommend citizens whom lives in district that is not involved in pilot scheme could recycle in the CGS nearby.

Where do the plastics go?

References

1. Green Sense (2020), <Online Purchase Packaging Survey 2020>, http://greensense.org.hk/en/?p=5679
2. The Environmental Protection Department (2018), The Environmental Protection Department: “Three Paper Two Plastics”, https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/wrp/recycling/paper_plastic_poster_en.html
3. The Environmental Protection Department (2019), “Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong”, https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/sites/default/files/msw2018.pdf
4. The Environmental Protection Department (2020), Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme, https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/pilot_scheme_collect_recycle_plastics.htm
5. HK01.com (2020), 《東區首試中央收膠　承辦商月收逾十噸廢膠　最怕廚餘棄回收箱》, https://bit.ly/3fZlisV  (Chinese only)

]]> http://greensense.org.hk/en/2020/07/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%8f%af%e5%9b%9e%e6%94%b6%e7%89%a9%e8%b3%87%e8%a8%8a%e6%95%b4%e5%90%88/feed/ 0 http://greensense.org.hk/en/2020/07/ytm/ http://greensense.org.hk/en/2020/07/ytm/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:22:40 +0000 editor http://greensense.org.hk/?p=5806 Green Living in Yau Tsim Mong 2020 is coming again!

Due to the improving pandemic situation, “Green Living in Yau Tsim Mong 2020″ will be resumed in late Sept. Green living education counters and green workshop will be organized in order to promote the importance of green living and educate people how to reduce waste at sources. This project is sponsored by Yau Tsim Mong District Council.

What are you waiting for? Let’s join the activities together!

Green Living education counters

Brief introduction about clean and proper recycling as well as waste reduction at sources will be provided. Handmade soap will be delivered to people who visits the counters. Besides, Yau Tsim Mong District’s residents can register for the green workshop at the counters too. Buy less over-packaging items and start living green!

Date: 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30 Sept. 2020 (6 days)

Time: 2:30-5:30pm

Venue: Public pavement of Public Square Street outside Prosperous Garden, Yau Ma Tei

Green workshop

The green workshop aims at educating participants to cultivate the habit of upcycling. To join the workshop, please fill in the online registration form. Enrollment is on first-come-first-served basis.

Date: 7 Oct. 2020 (Wed)

Time: 2:30-4:30pm

Venue: Classroom, 3/F, Henry G Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre, Yau Ma Tei

Capacity: 20# (or align with the public gathering limit)

Fee: $20

Theme: Organic Gardening Workshop

Foods we find in markets nowadays are often loaded with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Negative impacts include its damage on our health, as well as its disruption against our natural environment. As the pandemic stretches onwards, what better way to spend our time and ensure a healthy food source than organic gardening? Organic gardening is good for the environment as it requires no synthetic chemicals, and fully relies on the natural interactions between the plant and the natural environment. A greener and less waste alternative for gardening can put into action in this afternoon workshop!

ENROLL NOW http://bit.ly/YTMGS2020

For other enquiry, please contact Ms. Ho at 8100 4877.

#Event may be cancelled from the government’s restriction on social gatherings, worsening of the pandemic or other social incidents. Participants will be notified via email and phone if changes to events are made.

Online shopping is the hottest issue in recent years. It brings convenience to our daily life. However, it also brings us loads of packaging waste made by various materials, which may be hard to recycle. An escalating number of shopping online purchase is led by the outbreak of COVID-19. As a result, the packaging materials used are piling up as the same time.

Green Sense conducted a survey regarding the packaging of local online shopping in early April, 102 valid entries were collected. This survey is to study the current online shopping habit of Hong Kong citizens, the amount of packaging materials stemmed from online shopping, and post-consumption action taken. The findings may be able to let us rethink the waste problem led by online shopping, and urge the logistics company and online shops to reduce the packaging or use recyclable packaging materials instead.

Key Findings

1. Over-packaging problem is severe

Over half of the respondents (51%) share the same view that the situation of merchandises being over-packaged is severe. Summing up 656 items submitted, the average packing materials used was 2.18. It is common that one goods is wrapped by more than one packaging materials. The worst case was 12.67 units of packaging materials used for a single item.

2. Merchandises are wrapped in mixed packaging materials which is hard to recycle

Single online purchase could create up to 7 types of packaging materials including air bag, carton box, plastic bag, adhesive tape, bubble bag, cardboard and wrapping paper. Over half of the respondents mentioned single online purchase could receive at least have 4 types of packaging materials. Distinguishing recyclable materials would not be easy for citizens when an array of different packaging materials came at once. Given that adhesive tape is not recyclable, it is importance to separate tape from other materials beforehand. However, tapes are widely used in amount, that worsening waste separation and recycling.

3. Consumers willing to recycle face real-life obstacles

Notwithstanding most of the respondents are willing to recycle and reuse the packaging materials, the majority expressed their difficulties in recycling. Apart from the above mentioned reason, having too many kinds of packaging materials, they did not know where the packaging materials can be recycled. Government has long been focus on educating” three types of waste paper and two types of waste plastic containers” (Three types of waste paper covers newspapers, office papers, paperboard and two types of waste plastic containers include beverages or personal care products), Only the above waste plastic should be put into the waste separation bins.

However, packaging materials are not limited to the two types of waste plastic containers mentioned, other types of waste plastics can also be recyclable. For example, the inflatable air cushion plastic bag can be plastic code #2 or 4; bubble bags was found labelling #4, plastic bag can be made of plastic #2, 4 or 5; polyfoam wrappings are often found as #4 or 6. It is inconvenient for citizens to visit “Green Community Station”, usually remotely located, to recycle the above materials. The lack of waste recycling points does lower the recycling rate.

4. Respondents seek more environmental-friendly measures from online shops

The survey listed various environmental-friendly options in order to inquire environmental-friendly measures consumers are looking for (Question 9). About 90% of respondents hoped online shops to reduce unnecessary packaging, nearly 80% of the respondents opted that online shops should take the responsibility in reusing and making use of single or reusable packaging materials. Over 60% of the respondents accepted online platforms make good use of pre-owned or other brands packaging materials with a view to serving the purpose of reuse. Generally customers awaited online shops to implement more environmental-friendly measures. In which online shops and related platforms have to work in coordination with guidelines to cut down on the packaging.

Green Sense founded 15 years ago, it is also a milestone of waste reduction in Hong Kong: The opening of the first local drink carton recycling plant “Mil Mill” ,  as well as the imperative Municipal Solid Waste Charging. In order to arouse the awareness of newly added recyclables, taking proper actions in clean recycling, Green Sense Annual Charity Event (originally named “Charity Hike”) aimed to recruit numerous volunteers to build a giant Drink Carton Mosaic together.

The above description was the event introduction. Due to the outbreak and the lockdown, the volunteer event was forced to cancel. The content of the Charity Event altered from time to time. We worry our annual charity event would be doomed. Lacking of donation would widen the deficit and plans for environmental education in the community would be in vain.

Gladly, our teamwork, plus the supports from Sponsors and Green Partners made us overcoming all odds. A brand new Charity Event comes into the moment we stay at home more often, and be able to take part in clean recycling!

Collections boxes are newly setting up at multiple commercial buildings, shopping malls and residential properties.

When the virus dies down, the drink carton mosaic completed by our team will finally be displayed at public area, to echo the importance of clean recycling and collective contribution.

To treasure a single move to change the future, we hope all of you may donate to Green Sense, and live up together in a greener future.

Donate NOW：
Company      Individual 

Donate to Green Sense

Kowloon: Artisan Hub, KOHO, Majestic Park, Olympian City 1, Olympian City 2, Olympian City 3, One SilverSea, Park Metropolitan & The Hermitage

New Territories: Corinthia by the Sea,  Grand Palisades, Mayfair By The Sea I, Mayfair By The Sea II, Park Hillcrest, Park Villa & The Mediterranean

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Green Sense, established in 2004 and registered as Charitable Institutions in 2010. We aim to point out the non-environmental friendly practice in society through research and monitoring.  We enhance the environmental consciousness by education and publicity, in order to ultimately achieve an environmental friendly society, for the sake of our next generation.

We focus on waste management, global warming, ecological conservation, urban planning and reclamation. Collaboration with schools, companies, organizations for Environmental Education are welcome. Seminars, workshops and ecotours are our major education programmes.

More about us

We need your participation. Here are the event details:

Date: 1st July 2019 (Monday)
Time: 15:00-19:00
Dress code: outdoor sports wear (volunteer work vest will be provided)
Assembly: 15:00 Outside Exit B1 of Wan Chai MTR station
Location: 1. Opulent Building, No. 396-416 Hennessy Road 2. Southorn Playground (TBC)
Preparation: 1. Water bottle for drinking
2. Umbrella/raincoat and sunblock
3. Towel/handkerchief (use less tissue paper)
4. Adequate food

Register：http://bit.ly/2J2K3G3

Note:

1. We welcome anyone over 15 years old who wish to participate.
2. Participants who are under 18 years old need to submit parents’ letter with signature. (The parents’ letter will be sent with confirmation email)

Bangladesh

The first country to fully ban the use of any plastics, Bangladesh issued an order to forbid the private production, storage and use of polyvinyl chloride bags in 2002. Together with the launch of Jute Packaging Act 2010, the country is making its way towards biodegradable packaging using jute bags.

Bhutan

The country that has been crowned “the happiest country in the world” attempted a ban on the import of plastic bags as early as 1999. Though the ban was once lifted, serious pollution ensued and the ban on plastic bags was soon resumed. In 2005 the ban was further strengthened, which earned the country the award of “Champion of the Earth” from the United Nations Environment Programme in the same year.

China

China has already prohibited shops from distributing plastic bags for free since 2008, and at the same time has also forbidden the production, sale and use of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 cm. While exemptions can be made for certain foods due to concerns in hygiene, in reality, however, only large-scale supermarket chains abide by the restrictions.

Hong Kong

In 2009, Hong Kong implemented the first phase of the Plastic Shopping Bag Levy Scheme, with convenience stores being the first to comply. Under the Scheme, consumers are charged HK$0.5 for each plastic bag. In 2015, the Scheme was expanded to cover all shops, with exemptions for certain foods for hygiene reasons.

India

Over half of the states and union territories in India have implemented either partial or complete bans on plastics, despite effects not being very prominent. On 8^th June this year, or World Ocean’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that India would “abandon all single-use plastic products by 2020”.

Israel

Since 1^st January this year, Israeli supermarkets has put into effect a plastic bag levy and started charging US$0.03 (equivalent to HK$0.2) for each bag.

Japan

While awareness of waste sorting and recycling is rather strong in Japan, a comprehensive plastic bag levy scheme has not yet been established. Recently, the country has announced that starting from 2020, plastic bags will no longer be provided for free in shops.

Korea

The country announced last year that starting from July 2018, all sales of cosmetics containing microplastics would be prohibited, as well as the use of plastic bags in supermarkets from October. Targets has also been set, which include reducing the use of plastic bags and cups by 35% before 2025, and reducing the production of plastic waste by half by 2030.

Malaysia

Since 2011, all shops in Malaysia have carried out a measure in which during one day of the week plastic bags would not be provided for free. Later, several regions in the country have banned the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam products. In 2017, it is declared that in the federal territories Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya plastic bags were completely prohibited and that expenses for packaging would be paid by businesses.

Myanmar

In the country’s capital Yangon a law was passed in 2009 forbidding the manufacturing, sale and storage of “non-recyclable” plastic bags. In 2011, all plastic bags in the city were banned.

Singapore

The fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken in Singapore has recently announced that starting from 20^th June, all 84 branch stores would stopping offering plastic straws and cup lids for dine-in customers, while the lids would still be provided for takeaways. As for a plastic bag levy, as of March, authorities stated that they do not have a plan for such a scheme yet.

Sri Lanka

After the catastrophe in which a garbage dump collapsed causing huge casualties in 2017, Sri Lankan authorities passed a law in September of the same year to prohibit the sale of plastic bags, cups and food trays. Offenders would be prosecuted under the National Environmental Act and could face a maximum sentence of two years.

Taiwan

Taiwan has been very proactive in creating a plastic-free society. Since the start of a series of plastic bans in 2002, plastic bags are no longer provided for free in various public or private companies, shops and supermarkets as well as convenience stores. Lately the authorities further announced a plan to ban plastic straws, along with a target to eliminate all microplastics-containing products from the market in 2020. Furthermore, it is planned that single-use plastic items including plastic bags, disposable cutlery, single-use cups and straws would all be banned in 2030.

Thailand

The discovery of 80 plastic bags in the body of a dead whale in Thailand has shocked the world. The Thai government has since doubled efforts in banning plastics, with a target to halve the usage of plastic items by 2021.

Most Asian countries and regions start with a plastic bag levy and some expand legislative efforts to banning straws and microplastics-containing products. We can all start from stop using plastic bags as well, and walk towards a plastic-free life step by step.

For more information and activities on “living plastic-free”: http://greensense.org.hk/no1off