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Malaysians are all used to the concept of ‘tapau’ or takeaway, where meals are packed in polystyrene food containers. However, these containers will soon be old news now that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is pushing for a ban on the containers.
Councillor Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin, the city’s low carbon green city secretariat chairman, said MBPJ has drafted a three-year action plan on this matter and hopes to embark on it this year. He said more details will be made known in a press conference soon.
The plan was modeled after that of a municipal council in Penang where the Penang state government had directed the council to ban the use of polystyrene containers. [Source]
Polysterene containers (or Styrofoam) is an inexpensive, hard plastic material commonly used in Malaysia to pack foods in. It contains toxic substances like Styrene and Benzene, which are suspected to be carcinogens and neurotoxins that are hazardous to humans. Once the surface of the polystyrene comes in contact with hot food or liquid, the particle breakdown of styrofoam takes place, causing some toxins to be absorbed into the bloodstream and tissue. On top of its health hazards, polystyrene products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource. It takes up to 500 years to decompose. [Source]
It’s so good to see that Malaysia’s taking steps to becoming a greener nation. Instead of getting your takeaway packed in the restaurants containers, bring your own instead.
