SUNGAI BESAR: Selangor Barisan Nasional will consider introducing a policy that will see retailers paying 20 sen to consumers who bring recycled bags to shop, if the party regains the state in the 14th General Election.
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said the Selangor government's "No to plastic bags and polystyrene" campaign was nothing but a failure since the state has not seen a drastic reduction in plastic bag usage since the campaign was implemented on Jan 1 last year.
He said supermarkets and retailers should play a pivotal role in reducing plastic bag usage, by giving 20 sen to consumers who bring their own shopping bags.
This, he said, would encourage more people to use recycled shopping bags instead of spending 20 sen on each plastic bag.
The Selangor Barisan Nasional chairman also questioned the state government on the funds collected from plastic bag sales at supermarkets and food premises.
“The campaign is a failure. We still see plastic bags and garbage laying on the ground. Besides, the public wants to know how is the money collected from selling plastic bags for 20 sen each is being utilised and whether it is channeled back to the public in other ways.
“We do not see the 20 sen in our receipts at shopping malls and grocery stores. So where is the money going? This is only troublesome to the public. The state government must answer to this.
“By right, if we want to encourage consumers to go green and cut back on plastic bag usage that is detrimental to the environment, supermarkets must pay 20 sen to those who bring their own shopping bags.
“We should not merely charge those who do not bring their own bags. Then, it will be fair to both parties,” he told reporters when met here today.
Noh said if Barisan Nasional wins the next general election and comes into power, it would restudy the state government’s policy and look into ways to better encourage the public to go green.
“BN will examine this policy and implement it if we win in GE14,” he said.
He also noted that the campaign was a failure due to irresponsible human behaviour and lack of awareness on the importance of preserving and conserving the environment.
The Selangor Legislative Assembly in July last year said a total of RM1.87 million had been collected from shoppers in Selangor through the 20 sen charge for each plastic bag since the "No Plastic Bag" campaign was implemented in the state.
The collection, however, only involved supermarkets and food premises that had informed the state government, through their respective trade associations, on their collection of the 20-sen charge between January and May.
Of the total, 63.98 per cent of the collection was made from supermarket operators, while the rest, by operators of food premises.