Govt agencies lead way to eco-friendly plastics
By Rosli Abidin Yahya 

Concerned government ministries and departments which use a huge amount of plastic are now said to be looking at biodegradable plastics in their zest to protect the environment. The two leading agencies that use plastic, the Ministry of Health and the Agricultural Department, are specifying biodegradable plastics to be supplied to them. Other huge plastic users include the Municipal Board, Public Works Department, BINA and the district offices

Such plastics are to be used by the Ministry of Health to pack medicines supplied to patients, including tablet packing and bottles and the Agriculture Department to nurture young seedlings and plants.

One advantage in the use of biodegradable plastic is that it would disintegrate back to nature after several months. Due to its molecular stability, plastic does not easily break down into simpler components and only biodegrades after several hundred years.

Such biodegradable plastic is actually developed from the perspective of global environmental conservation.

However, biodegradable plastic costs a few cents more than its conventional counterpart. Observers said the extra cost alone is one factor that may put off local supermarkets from using biodegradable plastic for shopping bags and products packing.

Reliable surveys stated that it is estimated supermarkets, wet markets and shopping establishments in Brunei use some 5 to 10 million pieces of biodegradable plastic bags annually.

The used plastic bags are usually thrown away, clogging landfills, and polluting rivers, beaches and oceans.

A local supplier when contacted said that in cases of large orders, the extra cost would only be minimal but such high demand would only be possible if there is a legislation stating that only biodegradable plastic must be used in this country.

He said researchers in some parts of the world are working to develop biodegradable plastic that will disintegrate due to bacterial action or exposure to sunlight.

"The use of biodegradable plastic products would cause a long-term positive effect in saving the environment for our future generation," he said.

In April last year, some 105 young plants were planted all over the open area of the Development Ministry in a ceremony to commemorate World Earth Day, organised by the Environment Unit of the ministry.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin