Plastic Reduction

In 2009, there were 120,000,000 newspapers and magazines’ plastic bags disposed in Hong Kong. Environmental organizations, newspaper stores and the Government have encouraged people to reduce using plastic bags again and again. However, there are an increasing number of newpapers to be sold with plastic bags. With the support of the Environmental Protection Department, Greeners Action cooperated with the Coalition of Hong Kong Newspaper and Magazine Merchants and Hong Kong Newspaper Hawker Association to hold an activity called “Buying newspaper without plastic bags”. It starts from 31st January for 1 year. There are 1500 roadside newspaper stands and bookstores which would post some promotional materials in order to change citizens’ habit of using plastic bags for newspapers. It is also an effective way to get ready for the 2nd phrase of the Levy Scheme on plastic bags.

On 30th January, the kick-off ceremony of the Campaign was held at Chater Garden. Mr. Yau Tang-wah, the Secretary of the Environment Bureau, was the guest of honour, demonstrating how to buy newspapers without bags with more than 30 representatives from the Coalition and different districts as well as Mr. Cheung Kei-chung and Ms. Takki Wong as the ‘No plactic bags’ Ambassadors. After the ceremony, Mr. Yau led all the guests to go to the newspaper stands in Central and distributed the paperweight which with a slogan of “buying newspaper without bags, no more overuse!”. Also, they encouraged the stand owners to stick the stickers at some obvious spots so as to remind people to use fewer plastic bags for newspapers. Mr. Cheung and Ms. Wong even gave out some eco-friendly Fai Chun to them, which means supporting environmental protection and creating a brighter future by using fewer plastic bags.