Sunday, Oct 05, 2008

Gulf News

Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: Plastic bags are commonly distributed in supermarkets and the majority of customers do not think twice about using them to carry their groceries home.

However, residents' customs are gradually changing and a cross section has already taken action in preserving the environment and using jute bags for their groceries.

The Ministry of Water and Environment previously announced that it will launch an initiative in early 2009 to reduce the production and use of plastic bags.

In a recent Gulf News poll, 80 per cent of respondents said they use a plastic bag shopping, 11 per cent said they take their own bag and the remaining 10 per cent said they look for a biodegradable bag.

City Talk took to the streets and asked residents if they are concerned about conserving the environment, what action they take, and whether they take their own plastic bags to the supermarkets.

Ednei Romano, a Brazilian pilot, 35, said: "I worry about the trash littered in the desert and around the city, because you can find it everywhere. I use the plastic bags in supermarkets, but I do my part by recycling paper at the end of each month. I also accumulate batteries and recycle them at the end of each quarter."

Genn Organista, a salesperson from the Philippines, 24, said: "I do not recycle plastic bags but I try my best to re-use them. I sometimes re-use the plastic bags so that I can either use them for carrying groceries or keeping my packed lunch."

Wasan Abu Samra, a Jordanian homemaker, 30, said: "I take my own bag occasionally but I did not know that plastic is harmful to the environment."

Aseel Maroof, a student from Lebanon, 18, said: "No, frankly I am not very concerned about conserving the environment and I do not take any active steps for it. Also, I do not refuse a plastic bag when I am given one at supermarket counters."

Dipendra Rai, a Nepalese housekeeper at a hotel, 27, said: "I use my own jute bag whenever I go to supermarkets, but sometimes I forget it so have to use the plastic bags in supermarkets instead. I always recycle whatever plastic bags I have at the end of each month, and I keep paper stacked in my room so that I can recycle it as well. This is a habit I have been maintaining over the last two years."

Fayez Mohammad Al Khouja, a marine inspector from Jordan, 44, said: "Environmental concerns are a central part of my job as a marine inspector; it is something we have to look out for during inspections of oil-pumping systems on ships and facilitating the separation of plastics and metal from the rest of the garbage produced on ships. I think some of that concern is reflected in my personal life and my kids, for example, are aware of simple things such as not littering and they have taken part in environment awareness events. I think there is still much effort needed to raise awareness because there are many environmentally friendly practices we can learn and many people we still have to reach."

Mariam Ameer, a homemaker from Oman, 28, said: "I do not know much about conservation. However, I do use plastic wisely by using the bags I get at the supermarkets to throw out trash. If there were better options I would prefer that, but I do not think there are any."

Mohammad Abu Naaj, a customer service manager from Palestine, 27, said: "I do have some environmental awareness but, unfortunately, not enough to practice in my everyday life. I think there is a lack of such awareness in the Arabic media which in turn reflects on the general population. It is something that needs to change because environment is something which affects all of us and we need to preserve it for our kids and their kids."

Joy Regio, a Filipina secretary, 24, said: "I think I have good environmental awareness and I try to reflect that in how I live my life by saving on the use of water and electricity both at home and work. It is something we often talk about at home as a family, also because it helps us cut down on utility bills."

Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.