Stop Abusing Plastic Bags, Shop With Your Own
Be A Smart Environmentally Conscious Boss,
Don't Waste Plastic Bags
The drive to cut down on the use of plastic shopping bags is forging ahead with new momentum this year.
First, a total of 37 markets throughout the territory - the biggest number since the drive began in 1995 - will take part in the month-long "Plastic Bag Reduction in Markets Campaign 1998" to be officially launched on February 28.
Second, operators of some 6,000 stalls in these participating markets are coming forth with new initiatives to help reduce the supply of plastic bags.
Third, 140,000 "lucky" market shoppers will receive free a reusable shopping bag, through a series of promotional activities, to reduce the demand for plastic bags.
This two-pronged approach, with support from both the suppliers and consumers, will assure the campaign a good measure of success. The ultimate objective of the campaign is to reduce the massive daily plastic bag waste which is causing severe environmental problems.
Plastic bags disposed in great numbers take up very valuable landfill space and, when not disposed of properly, create an unsightly mess on land and in the sea and also represent a threat to marine life.
Said the Chairperson of the "Plastic Bag Reduction in Markets Campaign 1998", Mrs. Pamela CHAN Wong-shui: "The campaign is a win-win for all participants. We are appealing to the consumers, in our slogan, to 'stop abusing plastic bags' and to 'shop with your own' when shopping in the markets. This is only a small behaviour change but the environmental benefits will be felt from generation to generation".
"Stall operators, on the other hand, will have everything to gain as fewer plastic bags mean less expenditure for business. So we are urging them, in our slogan, to be a smart environmentally conscious boss," she added.
Besides the slogans aimed at market goers and stall operators respectively, the campaign has also designed a simple practical 3-step guide to help both suppliers and consumers reduce the distribution and consumption of plastic bags:
- Put all meat products in one single plastic bag.
- Vegetables and dried food can go directly into the shopping bag you bring along.
- Different kinds of seafood can too share a single plastic bag.
In brief, consumers are urged to :
- Bring your own reusable bag
- Avoid plastic packaging and accept substitutes such as wrapping paper
- Fully utilise the bag space and decline extra bags or multi-bag packaging
- Reuse the plastic bags you do get as often as you can.
All these publicity materials will be prominently displayed at the markets during the campaign period. In addition, a 30-second TV publicity film will also be broadcast to drive home the message.
Representative of stall operators from the participating markets and the campaign organisers attended a get-together and briefing session today (February 17) in final preparation for the official launch of the campaign.
The campaign is jointly organised by the Urban Services Department, Regional Services Department, Housing Department, Housing Society, the Environmental Protection Department and the Consumer Council.
An opening ceremony cum fun fair will be held on Saturday, February 28 at Sha Tsui Road playground, Tsuen Wan, beginning 2:00p.m. Admission is free and all members of the public are welcome to join in the fun fair which will simulate a typical market for consumers to learn and practise their newly acquired skills in reducing the use of plastic shopping bags.
Issued by
Plastic Bag Reduction in Markets Campaign 1998
For press enquiries:
Contact: Consumer Council