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Guyanese urged to get on board with reusable bag initiative
By Zena Henry
The issue of recycling and reusing has been brought to the fore, time and time again,
Three of the attractive reusable bags.
in a bid to encourage the conservation of the environment. Locally, stakeholders have devised many ways to promote greener societies and the reusable bag initiative is just another way to achieve this.
During the holidays especially, Guyanese shoppers were encouraged to make a significant and positive impact on improving their environment when they shop.
Under the Clean Green Guyana Campaign, being administered by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, shoppers at major supermarkets received attractive and sturdy reusable bags in which to place their groceries and other purchases instead of putting these in plastic bags that harm the environment.
According to a research report by the Local Government Ministry, it was shown that a significant proportion of waste generated in Region Four in Guyana, on the whole, comprises non-reusable, single-use products, including plastic bags, plastic bottles, and Styrofoam containers.
Such non-reusable waste was said to make up approximately 10 percent of the waste from Guyanese households, the largest proportion after biodegradable or organic waste that makes up about 50 percent of household waste.
“These non-reusable plastic items are devastating to the environment and are stressful to the solid waste management system both because of their volume and the fact that they photodegrade, breaking down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers which eventually contaminate soils and waterways.”
Disposable plastic bags are especially visible and dangerous threats to the environment that frequently appear in the litter of many Region four communities. Supermarkets and other enterprises distribute these freely to customers who have come to expect being provided with plastic bags when they shop. It was stated, however, that by using a reusable bag such as the ones being distributed under the ‘greener’ initiative, shoppers may help mitigate the serious environmental threat that plastic bags pose.
It was pointed out, that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that using a reusable bag can save the use of six plastic bags a week or 288 bags a year.
“The reusable bags are currently being distributed at all branches of Bounty, DSL and Survival supermarkets. Shoppers who receive a bag are encouraged to take this bag with them whenever they shop, to place their purchases in, rather than in plastic bags.”
Besides making a very important contribution towards a clean and green Guyana, it was pointed out that shoppers also have the chance to win a hamper this month every time they use their reusable bag.
“The Ministry of Local Government, through the Clean Green Guyana Campaign encourages all Guyanese to play their part in making the environment clean and green by using a reusable bag instead of plastic ones when shopping.”
Guyenterprise will provide additional information to persons wanting to be part of the reusable bag initiative.
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