Green Post: A Polystyrene Alternative

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THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia wasn't very happy during the recent Thaipusam festival. Thaipusam, otherwise known as Thaipooyam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community to commemorates both the birthday of Murugan or Subramaniam, the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapdman. It seemed that 630,000 and 347,000 polystyrene food and drink containers were used in Selangor and Penang respectively during the two day festival. Polystyrene is not biodegradable and it floats on water and being borne by wind, it pollutes the shores and waterways.The California Coastal Commission says polystrene is now the principal component of marine debris. CAP finds it regrettable that polystyrene was widely used when there were more recyclable, sustainable and freely obtainable alternatives such as banana leaves and environmentally friendly containers pioneered by Universiti Sains Malaysia. Now, I don't know much about that. But if only supermarkets and shops stock banana leaves and the so called envrionemtally friendly containers...

Comments

Liudmila said…
I think, the story about bio-degradable packs is not true. But it is necessary to do something with the sea, surely, so, I think, every action of pulishing is good.
25 February 2009 at 08:15
footiam said…
I don't really know what you mean. that there is no such thing as bio-degradable packs?
3 March 2009 at 23:08
Liudmila said…
I don't believe they do them in a correct way and these bags really disappear if remain in the earth.
4 March 2009 at 01:04
footiam said…
Come to think of it, if they don't disappear, then there should be lots of these plastic everywhere. We really can't believe all we read!
8 March 2009 at 05:29
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