The offending plastic bags.
The convenience of fast food means it inherently involves a lot of waste: burgers are served in paper wrap and French fries are scooped into paper baskets.
But is it really necessary for Hong Kong’s McDonald’s to place every single disposable cup into a plastic bag, a practice that is exclusive to the restaurant’s branches in Asia?
A movement spearheaded by Hong Kong schoolchildren is urging McDonald’s to stop their wasteful practice of serving drinks in plastic bags. More than 500 students from six different international schools are involved.
According to Jameson McLennan, a 14-year-old student at Canadian International School who’s involved in the project, in 2010, all of China’s McDonalds used “enough plastic to cover half of Hong Kong Island in plastic waste one metre deep”.
Jameson McLennan
(Alternatively, that’s enough to cover the entirety of Hong Kong Island in plastic waste 0.5 metres deep. Whichever you prefer.)
“We believe that it is a waste of precious resources and damaging to the environment and should be stopped, especially when there is an alternative that could be used such as recycled paper cup carriers,” McLennan said via email.
The precocious teenager added that reducing plastic use would not only decrease waste, but also save the corporation money.
McDonald’s has not yet returned our request for comment.
The young students are using what they know best in their fight against plastic waste: social media. Utilising Facebook and online platforms like Change.org, the kids raise awareness and lobbying for their cause.
On Facebook, their Bag McDrinks Bags page has over 700 likes, while their Change.org petition has collected 300 signatures so far, over halfway to their goal of 500 supporters.
The Change.org petition
While some youngsters are disgraced at the mess their elders have left on the planet, McLennan remains hopeful.
“Changing the world starts with a series of small changes like saying no to a plastic bag,” he insists.
“I believe that everybody needs to make a difference, which is why I am getting friends involved with this issue because ultimately it is my generation that it going to have to deal with this problem if things do not change now.”
Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co.
