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Gulf News is launching a campaign against the problems of using too many plastic bags. We want everyone to take part and help in protecting the environment.
Have you curbed your use of plastic bags? If yes, how have you done so? Have you found an alternative?
Tell us about it or send us your pictures by clicking here.
Your comments
This campaign should have started a long time ago, but, like we say 'better late than never'.
Carrefour's bags which are priced at Dhs.2 (Free Lifetime Replacement)are the best options as of now - they are very convenient to carry all the shopping and are very strong. The Abu Dhabi Co-Operative has followed suit - they are smaller in size and are not replaced if torn!!!
I think all supermarkets should ask the customers if they want a bag - have seen poeple take EXTRA bags even when not required. The bag options shown in your paper are great as well provided they are convenient to carry like the Carrefour ones...preferably ones that one could sling on to the shoulder and user friendly - not the ones with the round wooden handle as shown.
Hope the citizens realize the importance of this campaign.
Armin
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 09, 2008, 12:26
I used to use plastic bags before but now my friends and I use cloth bags, similar to those used in India.
Ahmed
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 09, 2008, 12:01
I mostly use jute bags whenever I go shopping and refuse the plastic bags offered by the malls. This sometimes causes raised eyebrows from others but it does not matter as long as I can do my bit for a good cause.The malls should use either the bio degradable plastic bags or paper bags or should distribute jute or straw bags and they could add it to the purchase list as a one time payment. The customers can then reuse these bags for future shopping. Maybe, then many may not mind doing away with plastic bags which pose a menace to the environment. More public awareness could be created by way of hoardings hung at strategic places which one reads at one point or the other. They are an avoidable hazard which can be curbed at all costs. I am a reader of Gulf News since I came here a year ago and have followed your articles regarding the problem of using plastic bags. The malls and all the stores could be given a time limit by which they could slowly phase out the usage of plastic bags. After that if they still continue do a warning could be given and then a fine should be levied. This may curb the usage drastically.
Kashmira
Sharjah,U.A.E.
Posted: April 09, 2008, 11:43
I didn't find any alternative yet but I tried as much as I could. When I shop in malls they put things in 5 to 8 plastic bags, but now I make sure everying is put in maximum 2 plastic bags. I know its hard to take heavy shopping in 2 bags but I did.
If everyone did this may be you will see reduction in usage of plastic bags.
It is my own idea, I don't know if works or not but I beleive it will.
Asifa
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 09, 2008, 11:43
On a shopping spree, I pick a bag from the first shop and start filling in the same bag at the next stop. Avoid taking a plastic bag when you are purchasing something that would fit into your handbag. It's simple and makes a difference.
Lulu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 09, 2008, 11:15
I haven't yet as such started an alternative to using plastic bags but I'm very much interested in doing so.
For shopping purposes, the best idea, one might think, would be if the consumers take along their own shopping bags with them and of course reuse it again and again.
The shopkeepers could provide paper bags but this may turn out to be expensive esp. in big hypermarkets. But even so plastic bags are everyday household necessity, esp. the plastic garbage bags. Thus according to me the best idea I'd suggest would be to first of all to motivate people to carry their own shopping bags or shopping trolleys and secondly to manufacture biodegradable plastic bags that can be used whenever needed without worrying about the environment.
Simi
Abu Dhabi,U.A.E
Posted: April 09, 2008, 10:55
Yes, I carry a bag made of cotton cloth with me everytime I go for shopping. We are used to this because this practice was very much prevalent in India for a long time, untill recently when the plastic carrybag culture took over. Now we understand how our elders understood the nature and respected it.
Sukanya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 09, 2008, 09:05
Paper bags or nylon bags or onion bags are a good alternative.
Onion bags can be knit together for durable and sizable use.
So why not?
Mirza
Abu Dhabi,U.A.E
Posted: April 08, 2008, 16:36
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