By Kyaw Ye Aung
(Eco-conscious Citizen)
Yangon is a major city known for the cool beauty of its lush trees and elegant ancient buildings. As we approach the pleasant spring season, temperatures are beginning to rise gradually. However, the littering of plastic along the roadsides and in the drains spoils the beauty of the capital. These sights mar not only the cleanliness of the city but also raise questions about the civic responsibility and citizenship of the city dwellers.
As the saying goes, “A small spark can cause a great fire.” This is a vital lesson for our plastic problem today. Throwing away even a single plastic bag carelessly may seem like a small act, but when trash accumulates, it clogs the drainage systems. This results in urban floods during the monsoon season. Furthermore, we should be aware that soil degradation and health risks for humans and animals often stem from these minor, careless habits.
If we look at developed cities around the world, we see that cleanliness depends more on the discipline of the people than on government management alone. For example, Singapore has a strict fine system for littering and teaches children about waste management from a young age. Similarly, in Japan, there is no trash on the roads because people separate their waste systematically by type. In Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, plastic bags are prohibited, and residents participate in a collective cleanup once a month to keep their city clean.
City dwellers can start taking “Small Steps” to make our dream of a “Clean City, Green City” come true. We must cultivate good habits, such as using tote bags instead of plastic bags when we go shopping, and keeping our trash in our own bags until we find a bin. Additionally, keeping the area in front of our houses and streets clean shows our love for the city and serves as an inspiration for others to do the same.
It is our shared desire to see Yangon as a clean city during the beautiful summer. A sustainable solution depends more on the civic mindset and collective protection of the city dwellers than on action by the government or the City Development Committee alone. Therefore, let us promote the dignity of Yangon by throwing away trash systematically to achieve our goal of a “Clean City, Green City.” #TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar