Launch of Project Minus3Million Plastic Bags on Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD)
On 6 June 07, some 280 Republic Polytechnic (RP) students promoted the monthly Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD) by giving away 4,500 free reusable bags to heartlanders at three supermarkets in Woodlands vicinity.
These students, enthusiastic in their effort to contribute towards the conservation of the environment, were ready and confident to face any members of the public not keen to embrace the idea of using reusable bags and that plastic bags are now gaining notoriety as environmental-pests.
To students' surprise, they gathered positive affirmations from the public - made up of heartlanders from different backgrounds and age groups. The frequent requests for a pledge on reducing the use of plastic bags and filling up a survey were greeted with friendly nods and approachable gestures.
The students managed to educate the public on the hazards of having an over-accumulation of disposed plastic bags. However, some students still encountered those who insisted on using plastic bags and indicated the inconvenience of using a reusable bag. With much persuasion, their objections turned to concurrence when they were given the attractive yellow RP reusable bag; they pledged to reduce their use of plastic bags.
The pledge - Project Minus3Million Plastic Bags - was undeniably a success as it showed how mindsets can be changed when presented with hopes of an environmentally positive future; it also highlighted that efforts of a few who cared about the environment can propagate a community to do their bid for a greener environment for our future generations.
Imagine this, if you use 6 plastic bags less every week, as reiterated in the RP pledge cards, Singapore may collectively have reduced 3 million plastic bags a day. The mere thought of how one person’s endeavour (or not) may account for something significant stand testimony to the fact that all of us can make a difference.
When this event was over, there were many people beaming with pride with RP's yellow reusable bags slinging on their arms.
This event was supported by Conservation Interest Group (IG), Chiron Club, School of Applied Science (SAS) students and staff. SAS staff who has contributed significantly to this event are Grace Tan, Dr Tan Lay Pheng, Lisa Kavita Rajah, Serena Seah, Dawn Ong, Michelle Tan, Rina Loh, and Foo Yong Zhi.
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