Disposable products are not inherently safer than reusables

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Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumption of plastic products had surged with an estimated 1.6 million tonnes/day plastic wastes generated worldwide since the outbreak.[1] In Malaysia, much of the plastics consumed are single-use items that are not recyclable, such as face masks and food containers contaminated with residues[2]. 

Concerns over the role of reusable products as vectors for the SARS-CoV-2 virus had led to some stores globally to put a halt on initial plans to ban single-use items and in some cases even reversed the ban and prohibited the usage of reusables.   

Claims made on the apparent “hygiene” of single-use items however are disputable. Studies have shown that viruses may persist on surfaces for a certain duration, and plastics are not excluded. The SARS-CoV-2 persists just as long on plastics as it does on other surfaces[3]. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has affirmed that it is “highly unlikely” for infections to occur via food or food packaging and that currently there is no evidence of such occurrence. This applies to single-use and reusable packaging.[4]

Ultimately reusable items are safe to use when cleaned with soap and water, and there is no substitute for thorough hygiene.  Source reduction or preventing waste should be the number one priority for addressing waste. Shift from single-use items.  Transition to reusable and refillable.  

#WeChooseReusables #NoToSingleUse #breakfreefromplastic 

[1]  Benson, N. U., Bassey, D. E., & Palanisami, T. (2021). Heliyon COVID pollution : impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global plastic waste footprint. Heliyon, 7 (January), e06343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06343

[2] Covid-19 threatens to derail plastic reduction efforts. (2020). The Sun Daily. https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-threatens-to-derail-plastic-reduction-efforts-MC5499790

[3] Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. (2020). The New England Journal of Medicine. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:1564-1567 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmc2004973  

[4] World Health Organization & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (‎2020)‎. COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses: interim guidance, 07 April 2020. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331705. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Member of Friends of the Earth International

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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