| Rokiah Mahmud |
THE Ministry of Development (MoD)’s Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) added Thursdays to the ‘No Plastic Bag Weekend’ drive yesterday in observance of the recent Earth Day 2018 celebrations.
The initiative was launched by Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar who also presented posters to representatives of several business establishments involved in the campaign.
Acting Director of JASTRe Martinah binti Haji Tamit in her welcoming address said the chosen theme was in line with the government’s efforts to address plastic waste issue.
“The slogan ‘It takes a nation to end plastic pollution’ places an emphasis on the engagement of all parties, including private individuals, institutions and organisations, to end plastic pollution and ensure the environment is free from pollution,” she said.
“All parties will need to cultivate a green-oriented and long-term sustainability approach to steer our country towards the goals of Brunei Vision 2035.”
Her welcoming address was then followed with a speech by the minister, who also presided over the launching of JASTRe’s official Instagram page, jastre.bn.
Afterwards, an MoD delegation distributed 300 reusable bags to several department stores in the Gadong commercial area, including Utama Grand Superstore Sdn Bhd, Sin Kiew Hin and Jaya Centrepoint Hypermarket Sdn Bhd.
The delegation was led by Acting Permanent Secretary at the MoD Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak.
In March 26, 2011, the MoD introduced the first ‘No Plastic Bag Weekend’ involving only Saturdays and Sundays. However, in the drive to reinforce its 3R (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle) initiative, Fridays were added to the campaign on February 17, 2012.
The ‘No Plastic Bag Weekend’ campaign initially involved a number of participating departmental stores and supermarkets, but gradually it became widespread among shops, restaurants and foodstalls across the country.
Forty countries have already adopted the initiative to limit the use of plastic bags, including Bangladesh, which banned plastic bags in 2002, in the aftermath of severe flooding. China issued a ban on thin plastic bags before the Olympic Games in 2008, while Bali signed a number of memorandums and declarations to ban plastic bags.
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