Profile: This Is The Last Straw for Swit Yen
March 29, 2018
By Aiman Azri
EDKL: When did you start practising No Straw?
Swit Yen: For me, I grew up as somebody who was involved in going green and stuff like that in primary school. I have slacked on this for a very long time, and I feel like now is a good time to create good habits again. It's more about going back to my original principles.
EDKL: So you now use your own straw that you bring with you whenever you eat out?
Swit Yen: I've been doing no-straw for about a month now. It was difficult to transition, especially when it came to people (waiters) having the norm of just automatically putting a straw into your drink.
I have this thing where I collect paraphernalia from cinemas, and there was a drink barrel that came with a straw. So I use that. I didn't buy a special straw, glass or anything like that. I used whatever I already had.
The least I can do for the next couple of months to make sure I strictly practise this.
EDKL: Do you practise any other initiatives that are similar to No Straw?
Swit Yen: Gwen, one of my friends from the poetry scene, started a minimal-waste campaign for lunchtime last year. It was a pro-dining-in kind of thing. But unfortunately for the industry I work with, events and productions at the time, I had to tarpau everything, all the time. It irked me so much that I was creating so much waste.
When she started the campaign, I wanted to support her as a friend. But it goes beyond a campaign. You want it to be more, to include it as part of your lifestyle.
I use my own container when I go to take away food. I also carry around a reusable cup, especially when I order takeaway for cold drinks and hot drinks. So you reduce the use of plastic bags and string.
I also carry a recyclable bag, to pack items and groceries. I also try to take the LRT as much as I can.
Check out facebook.com/TakNakStraw for helpful local information on this movement, including practical alternatives to accepting plastic straws at eateries. This interview was conducted independently in support of this movement; EDKL is not affiliated with the community, and this interview does not necessarily reflect the official views or perspectives of the movement.
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