Volunteers sought to be litter busters
MIRI: The Litter Busters group is calling for volunteers to help rid the Saberkas commercial area of plastic litter on Sunday.
Founder Dr Uma Devi said the project starting 8.15am aims to highlight the impact of singleuse plastic on the planet’s oceans, ecosystems, and human health.
“A lot of people are taking up the effort cleaning up the beaches and now with Litter Busters, we are focusing on cleaning up the commercial areas and market places and at the same time we are creating awareness that plastics are never fantastic,” she told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“All it takes is about half an hour to make the difference and currently we are looking for a minimum of 10 volunteers. We shall start the project at Saberkas commercial area.”
She said it is necessary for residents in the area to be involved as well and to educate them on how cleanliness is vital to the environment, especially where they live.
“It is important to note that according to research, by 2050, it’s estimated the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight, thus it all depends on the attitude of us on the land to maintain a healthy, clean environment and the ocean.
“Litter Busters aims at instilling the public’s mindset to have an environmentally friendly Miri so that the future generation will look forward to a clean Miri, whereby throwing plastic products randomly will eventually become a thing of the past,” she said.
Dr Uma said Litter Busters would carry out similar sessions on a regular basis, adding Miri Mayor Adam Yii is very supportive of the move.
“We are collecting the recyclable plastic bottles, all the plastics bits and pieces like Styrofoam. We are focusing on plastics because we do not want people to dump plastics in the drain or the rivers for the sake of the environment and our own health,” she said.
Litter Busters will meet in front of Aseanika Restaurant, Saberkas commercial area for the project on Sunday.
For details contact team leader Nor Laila Abdul Tata (012-8586121) or Dr Uma ( 013- 8370033).
All it takes is about half an hour to make the difference and currently we are looking for a minimum of 10 volunteers. We shall start the project at Saberkas commercial area. Dr Uma Devi, Litter Busters founder