Banners, streamers to be turned into reusable ecobags
MIRI: Miri City Council ( MCC) in collaboration with technical and vocational training centre GiatMara Miri have embarked on a smart partnership to upcycle banners or streamers into reusable ecobags.
Chairman of Zero Plastic Taskforce councillor Keith Chin said the programme is implemented by MCC under Solid Waste Reduction Working Group of Miri Local Agenda 21 ( LA21), MCC’s Enforcement Section and GiatMara Miri.
“The upcycled banner @ streamers reusable ecobag programme is the idea of permanent secretary to Ministry of Local Government and Housing Bakri Zaini.
“This was said during a keynote address by Minister of Local Government and Housing at the launch of the campaign on ‘No Plastic Bag Every Sunday’ and ‘ Banning of Styrofoam Usage for Food Packaging’ on Dec 15 last year,” he said when chairing a dialogue on Upcycled Banner @ Streamer Reusable Ecobag at MCC’s chamber meeting room on Thursday.
Chin said the project themed ‘From Enforcement To The Community’ is sponsored by Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
“It is implemented under Miri City’s Community Development and Green Programme to make recycling a culture, and instil better awareness among the people on the need to protect the environment.”
MCC will supply used streamers or banners including items without permits and unclaimed items for GiatMara to process into ecobags.
Trainees of GiatMara’s sewing workshop will produce the ecobags for shopping into two sizes – jumbo and super.
“The first 100 ecobags produced will be distributed at the launch of the project to be set on another date later. Sales from the ecobag project will be channelled to the trainees’ income and for GiatMara maintenance costs.”
Both MCC and GiatMara will work closely in marketing and promoting the ecobags produced from used banners or streamers. During the dialogue session, most advertising companies here supported the project in line with MCC’s effort to make Miri a truly green city.
Also present were acting MCC secretary Morshidi Fredrick, GiatMara Miri’s senior manager Rakawi Nawi, MCC’s LA21 officer Dayang Siti Nurbaya Awg Kipli and councillors.