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Dispose of the Disposables

There are more than a thousand types of plastics, which can be further categorised into seven general groups. However, it is only practical to recycle three groups of plastics in Malaysia; these are 1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE), 2. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polypropylene (PP). Items like mineral water bottles, milk containers, lunch boxes, margarine containers are some of the items within these categories. The rest just goes to waste.

To add salt to the wound, Malaysia also has the unwanted distinction of being ranked eighth among the top 10 countries in the world with mismanaged plastic waste in the world.

As such, as part of its sustainable vision, the country aims for zero single use plastics by 2030.

We can support this by not using single use items such as:

  1. Straws – use paper straws or invest in reusable stainless steel or glass ones.
  2. Plastic bags – reuse the plastic bags you already have, and make sure you bring your own shopping bags when shopping.
  3. Baby wipes – Most baby wipes have microplastic fibres which do not biodegrade, so use them sparingly.
  4. Sanitary pads – Consider using cloth pads, which offer a better reusable alternative.
  5. Gum – Gum is made of synthetic rubber, aka plastic. Do you really want that in your mouth? Try sunflower seeds to satisfy the munchies or mints if you need to freshen your breath.
  6. Store-bought juice – Why not make your own freshly squeezed juice? It will also be healthier in the long run.
  7. Razor – Look for razors with replaceable blades.

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