Starting tomorrow, the 1st of September, Quezon City will be implementing a plastic free ordinance. This means groceries, supermarkets as well as restaurants will be using paper bags instead of issuing plastic bags. Now if you still want to use plastic bags, you'd have to pay 2 pesos per bag.
Sure, I'm in agreement with this ordinance. I always bring an extra tote bag with me so now it will serve its purpose. I'd probably have to bring two, one for canned good and the other for perishables.
This brings me to our trip in Hong Kong, last year. It took me some time to get used to the fact that they don't issue plastic bags there. I felt like a fool when I went to a pharmacy to buy contact lens solution and I was just standing there waiting for the sales staff to bag my purchase. Until I realized I could just take the item and leave. No wonder, I'd see men walking around with a bottle of oil or a bar of soap. Isn't it just like guys not to bring tote bags?
My only fear is that once this ordinance is in place, there might be accusations of shoplifting. Although it is relatively safe in Hong Kong to assume that most items you carry have been properly paid for, I'm not sure it is quite the same here. But let's just give each other the benefit of the doubt.
I believe it is time we do our fair share for the protection of the environment. Every time it rains you see tons of trash floating and clogging the drainage system. Not to mention the tons of garbage which washed ashore near the Manila Bay area. It was really a sight for sore eyes. But then I noticed during relief operations in flooded areas, NGOs would put canned goods, instant noodles and rice in the ubiquitous plastic bag.
Now isn't that contradictory? Tsk!
Now isn't that contradictory? Tsk!
6 comments:
San Francisco started to ban plastic bags, although if you choose to for a fee they will put your purchase in plastic bags.
I think that bringing your own shopping bag is the best way, although I kind of miss the plastic bags because I line my trash bins at home with them :)
I believe the ordinance is encouraging the use of reusable bags and is not encouraging a shift from plastic bags to paper bags.
Yes Photo Cache I know what you mean because we also use plastic bags to store our garbage which is picked up by the dump truck. So I have no idea what we will use once we run out of plastic bags. :D
Ah alright Anonymous thanks for clarifying the ordinance. :)
I also made the habit of carrying an extra fabric bag.
We also have several big reusable bags at the back of the car just in case we have unplanned supermarket trips.
My mom has a pail lined with those big black trash bag at the back of their car for the wet items.
Since we don't have a car, I have to bring all those extra tote bags in my big shoulder bag for groceries now. It gets really bulky but I guess I have to do my share in protecting the environment. :D
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