SMC intends to recycle plastic materials into bags

SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) has come up with a creative way to reduce the use of plastic bags by turning used banners into recycled bags.

SMC deputy chairperson Rogayah Jamain said the council would engage Sarawak Central Region Single Mothers Association ( Pitwits) to sew the bags for distribution next year.

“We assign members of the association to sew the recycled bags from used banners for distribution next year.

“The used banners include those utilised for advertisement,” she told The Borneo Post.

Rogayah added that SMC would continuously roll out programmes with nongovernmental organisations to educate the public on reducing the use of plastic bags to preserve the environment.

She also said they would regularly conduct education and awareness campaigns to discourage the use of plastic bags and on their negative effects. Plastic bags are also known to cause drain blockage.

“Protecting the environment is not solely the responsibility of the government and positive results can never be achieved if we do not work collaboratively.”

For the record, SMC has designated Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays as no-plastic days.

SMC’s ‘Say No To Plastic Bags 2.0’ campaign was launched early this month.

SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King during a recent full council meeting urged all retailers to substitute normal plastic bags with bio- degradable plastic bags or paper boxes and advised the public to bring their own shopping bags instead of using plastic bags.