XN000022-1995-08-19 — Page 3

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Use Less Plastic Bags Campaign a success

The "Use Less Plastic Bags Campaign" has attained a successful result a year after it was launched as about one third of the participating companies have achieved the target reduction of 10 per cent in their use of plastic bags during 1994-95.

Among these companies, two had scored the highest cutback rate of at least 30 per cent while most of the retailers took part in the drive had achieved a noticeable level of reduction in plastic bag consumption.

Jointly organised by the Environmental Protection Department, the Retail Management Association and the Consumer Council, the campaign demonstrated the collaborative effort of the retail industry, consumers and the Government in tackling the plastic bag problem.

It also showed it was a practical idea to get the plastic bag 'producer' to take up the responsibility to provide solutions for environmental problems and set a good example for other industries to follow.

The Use Less Plastic Bags Campaign Committee will carry the momentum of the drive into the second year by encouraging the participants to initiate their own ideas for cutting and controlling the use of plastic bags and to provide education for their staff.

The committee is hoping to achieve another 10 per cent reduction in plastic bag consumption in 1995-96.

Regular forums will be organised to disseminate creative and practical reduction ideas for the participating company's consideration in applying them to their own programmes.

A total of $114,000 has been granted from the Environment and Conservation Fund/Woo Wheelock Green Fund for the production of publicity tapes for broadcasting at some 800 major retail outlets throughout the territory to remind shoppers the need to protect the environment.

More than 20 versions of the tapes featuring such celebrities as top singers Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok will be produced for broadcast in the year to come in supermarkets, convenience and department stores.

A double decker bus carrying a catchy campaign slogan will run daily between Tin Shui Estate in the New Territories and the KCR Terminal Station in Kowloon to attract more public attention on the issue.

End/Saturday, August 19, 1995