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  Straits Times 4 Oct 07
Bag a PVC banner - and tote it around

Channel NewsAsia 3 Oct 07
"Make Your Own Bag" project launched as part of green initiative

SINGAPORE: A new recycling initiative called "Make Your Own Bag" has been launched to generate some pocket money for low income families and to encourage the use of recycled bags for grocery shopping.

The shopping bags are created out of used banners, which otherwise would have to be disposed of and they are clearly more colourful, fashionable and durable than the average shopping bag.

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Indranee Rajah, said: "Just having them (the residents) carry it and having people see them carry it, spreads the message around that you should really be using recycled bags instead of plastic bags."

The project, by grassroots organisations in the Tanglin-Cairnhill constituency in Central Singapore, plans to make 5,000 of these one-of-a-kind banner bags.

In addition, it helps generate some pocket money for the women, who come from low income families in the area, as they were tasked to sew the recycled bags. Sewing courses were even conducted for those who did not know how to sew.

Ms Paravathi Pavaday said that she is happy to be part of this project by helping to sew the bags as she can earn money and do some volunteer work at the same time. The project will be officially launched on November 4. - CNA/vm

Straits Times 4 Oct 07
Bag a PVC banner - and tote it around

WASTE not, want not, especially when a simple but clever idea helps save the environment.

Residents in the Tanglin-Cairnhill ward are giving old PVC event banners a new lease of life by transforming them into tote bags.

Some 50 women from low-income families within the area have already made about 2,000 such bags since early last month.

The organisers, from the Tanglin-Cairnhill Citizens Consultative Committee, hope to reach a target of 5,000 such bags, which have various designs. There is a cheeky one that reads 'I'm not a Designer Bag'.

And for the patriotic, there are bags with the National Day Parade 2007 logo.

The women receive between 40 and 60 cents per bag. Using sewing machines provided by the ward, these seamstresses can make up to 20 bags a day, which adds up to about $12 in extra pocket money.

Ms Indranee Rajah, an MP for the Tanjong Pagar GRC which covers the ward, endorsed the idea of converting the 'virtually indestructible' PVC banners into bags.

A constituency event can have as many as 10 banners put up. Costing between $70 and $100 each, they are later thrown away.

It was a 'thorough waste', Ms Rajah noted.

The organisers hope to drive home the green message by distributing 3,000 banner bags to residents in the area, free of charge.

Another 2,000 will be sold, with proceeds going to the ward's welfare fund which provides financial aid to needy families.

'It'll be nice to see my constituents carry around these bags,' mused Ms Rajah.

Keppel Corporation has already donated $5,000 for the first 500 bags, which it will use as goodie bags for a company event.

To help the project meet its 5,000 bag mark, more banner donations are needed, said organising chairman Susie Leung.

To donate or place an order for a bag, call the Henderson Community Club on 6270-8895.
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