here s the latest ssdm plastic bag ban news ...
From: SSDM Chairman Zeyad M. ELBassel
Dear friends and colleagues,
On Sunday the 17th of Feb. 2008; SSDM organized a brain storming session.
Attached you will find a summery of the ideas and suggestions that we received.
In addition, you will also find the outcome of the brain storming session and the plan of action for getting started.
SSDM will host a follow up meeting on the 4th of March 2008 at 11 AM to follow up, make correction and keep rolling.
If you wish to attend the meeting, please call Doaa - SSDM office manager - to confirm your attendance.
I would like to thank all of you for sharing your ideas, experiences and suggestions with SSDM.
Your feed back and input is highly appreciated.
Best wishes
Sincerely,
Zeyad M. ELBassel
Chairman
chairman@southsinai.orgPlastic Bag Campaign
Aim: To reduce and ultimately ban the use of plastic bags throughout the South Sinai
Issues: Plastic bags are used at all retail outlets in Egypt, and many times when it is unnecessary. Customers rarely say “no” to the bags and staff members behind the counters are unaware of the environmental concerns. They use bags even when someone is just buying a bar of chocolate.
Elements:
* Educate staff at retail shops on the environmental effects of plastic bags and how to ask the customer “do you really need a plastic bag?”
* Encourage customers to bring their own carrying bag, trolley, canvas bags, pliable boxes, re-usable durable plastic bags when they shop;
* Sell both large and small SSDM made reusable canvas bags for people to use when shopping;
* Sell SSDM made back bags.
* Sell palm trees leaves baskets (Fayoum products)
* Print awareness posters to put up in retail shops;
* Get hotels to provide each tourist (1 per room?) with a re-usable shopping bag with the campaign logo/ motto that the tourists can use during his stay in Sinai;
* After a transition period (a year?), then the hotels can make them available in the hotel for sale. The hotels can also inform tourists that there is a plastic ban in Sinai and that guests can purchase re-usable bags in the gift shop’
* Get larger grocery stores to sponsor reusable canvas bags. They would sell these to customers as an option at the check out counters (instead of paying for plastic bags EGP 13/kgs);
* Possibly compensate customers who bring their own bags;
* All funds raised from the sale of the bags will go towards this campaign.
Plan of Action:
* Contact other NGO’s and civil local entities for ideas, help and coordination,
* Estimated budget, fund raising ideas and financial policy,
* Designing and manufacturing of canvas bags with logo, an attractive design and motto
* Designing and printing awareness posters and handouts
* Recruit sponsors; DC, retails shops, Vodafone, EEAA, others
* Creating education packages or small talks to give to management/staff at retail shops in the Old Market, Hay El Nour, Rowayssat and Hadaba.
* Promote the campaign through community meetings, schools, hotels and correspondence with retail shop management
* Talk about the campaign and educate your family, friends and colleagues
* Get the governorate involved
SSDM Brain storming session.
On Sunday the 17th of Feb. 2008
In spite of the harsh facts and the potential difficulties; SSDM decided to go ahead with the project.
The main aspects of the project will include:
1. Preparation for the project launch,
2. Marketing the project to stack holders ( Education is the change of behavior),
3. Contact potential Sponsors ( DC, local businesses, hotels, travel agencies, etc)
4. Continuity and persistence is the key to success
5. SSDM role; organization, coordination, financing the project launch, follow up, etc
6. Role of participating community organizations, community members and volunteer
7. Getting tourists arriving to South Sinai involved; introduce the project packet (refuse plastic bags, use reusable bags flyer in a SSDM canvas bag)
8. Municipality role
The approved plan of action for the first step (Preparation for the project launch) includes the following points:
o SSDM board members and general members strongly adapt the idea of using reusable bags, canvas bags and baskets for shopping
o SSDM will contact the city Mayor and get more info about:
+ the a new garbage collecting company to start beginning of March
+ what about adapting the segregation system and home garbage collection ( concept attached)
+ Will SSDM get any support from the city mayor in the project?
- SSDM will acquire quotations for the “SSDM Shopping Bag”
o John kean, Peter Bossert and SSDM will get designs that reflects Sinai, environment and initiative for the following:
+ The campaign logo and motto
+ The attractive print/design on the bag
+ The posters and the handouts
o All participants, volunteers, association members, and community members will spread the word; promote the idea of using canvas bags and reusable bags, baskets during shopping among friends, colleagues and family. ( everyone of us can start doing this as of today)
o When we get the above quotations, SSDM treasurer will prepare the estimated budget and get it approved by the board
o The Bags are to be produced – Doaa (SSDM) will follow up the production and the printing quality
o SSDM, and John Kean will prepare a “Marketing package” that include:
+ The SSDM reusable nice designed canvas shopping bag
+ The poster and the hand out
+ The wall certificate that will be given to retail shop that is participating as a mean of recognition
o Volunteers are to be registered with SSDM and to be assigned to “market” the “Marketing package” with the retail stores:
+ Diving centers and water sports operations (SSDM contacts)
+ METRO, 24/7, Sheikh Abdalla, DAHAB ( personal approach and SSDM contacts)
+ HOTEL (SSDM contacts and SWC)
+ Tour operators (SSDM, CDWS, and personal contacts)
+ Residencial areas – Hadaba, Hay ELNOUR, Rowayssat, Aida, Delta, etc.
SSDM will host a follow up meeting on the 4th of March 2008 at 11 AM to follow up, make necessary corrections and collect feed back.
I would like to thank all of you for sharing your ideas, experiences and suggestions with SSDM.
Your feed back and input is highly appreciated; meanwhile, start by yourself, family, friends and colleagues; use reusable bags…………..
Best wishes
Sincerely,
Zeyad M. ELBassel
