GEORGE TOWN: The state's plan to increase charges for plastic bags from the current 20 sen to 50 sen will only be implemented once discussions and feedback from various stakeholders on the matter are taken into account.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said State Environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, during a state executive council meeting yesterday, had suggested increasing the plastic bag charges.
He said this was to intensify the state’s plastic bag usage awareness campaign.
Chow said the proposal follows the discovery that even though some 50 per cent were using their own recyclable bags, many however were still willing for fork out 20 sen for plastic bags.
“Since we started the no plastic bag policy in 2009, we had collected about RM8 to RM9 million in plastic bag charges.
“This big collection shows that users were still willing to pay for plastic bags and that the charges did not deter them from using plastic bags.
“Phee feels that the 20 sen charge is not high enough and imposing a higher plastic bag charge will create better awareness.
“I have asked for multiple sessions of engagement with stakeholders to be conducted before any decision is made,” he said.
He told this to reporters after attending the Inspiring Future Leaders conference organised by the Penang Women Chamber of Commerce, here, today.
Chow said there were no concrete plans to increase the charges at the moment and that it was only at the suggestion stage.
“It is only a suggestion but we can see from the response and reaction that it had already increased awareness,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that the issue of plastic bag usage must be taken seriously as it has a high impact on the environment.
“Plastic disposal is a problem as it is found in rivers and many places leading to pollution.
“Our plastic bag usage awareness campaign is to ensure that our environment is not polluted,” he said.
Chow said the state government had also started the no single use plastic policy at its administrative offices and found that the effort had massively reduced plastic usage in the offices.
”Even though plastic can be recycled and that some people think it's an industry but we however feel this effort involves everyone.
“It is multifaceted and it involves several parties including the federal government, malls, manufacturers as well as small traders such as hawkers and grocery stores.
“As the state government can only control certain things, we need other stakeholders to step in and help in the effort to curb plastic usage,” he said.
Chow also acknowledged that enforcement needed to be stepped up on an effort to eradicate all forms of pollution in the state including that of plastic usage.
“There will be a time in the future when we will ban plastic bag usage altogether. This would also be included in the stakeholders meetings,” he said.
Meanwhile asked on transitioning from plastic to paper bags, Chow said it was up to vendors to undertake.