Plastic materials an eye sore along some stretches of coastline
MIRI: The public are alarmed that debris, particularly plastic materials, have become an eye sore along some stretches of the coastline here.
Although various beach cleaning activities have been conducted by Miri City Council ( MCC) and volunteer groups who love the environment, Miri mayor Adam Yii said the efforts have not been totally successful.
Speaking during a briefing on biodegradable plastic at MCC yesterday, Yii said the effort to safeguard the environment was not something new to the council as it has always been the council’s main concern.
He was not happy that the public had a bad habit of dumping their household waste into the drains and Miri river which flow into the sea and then is fully washed up onto the beaches by strong waves.
“Such a selfish attitude not only pollutes the Miri river and affects the marine life, it will also hamper the council’s effort to continually project Miri as a clean and green resort city.” Saying clearing the debris would only cause MCC to incur additional expenditure, he fully agreed that environment education is important to increase people’s awareness of the need to preserve and conserve the environment.
At the same time, he encouraged the public and business operators to switch from normal plastic to biodegradable plastic.
He explained that normal plastic was not degradable and it would take centuries to decay.
Earlier, general manager of Reka Jaya Supplies & Resources Sdn Bhd, Edward C.K. Yong, briefed the council as well as supermarket representatives on biodegradable plastic.