GEORGE TOWN: Penang non-governmental organisations have called on the state government to ramp up its efforts to tackle the problem of single-use plastic bags in the state.
While welcoming the state government’s move to mull increasing plastic bag charges to 50 sen a piece for consumers, they believe that more needs to be done to beef up existing regulations.
Consumer Association of Penang president S.M Mohamed Idris said that despite Penang being the first state to implement a ‘no free plastic bags policy’ in the country back in July 2009, it is still being widely used in Penang.
“The ‘no free plastic bag’ ruling only applies to shopping outlets but not hawkers and markets,” he said.
He said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s admission that almost RM9 million was collected from plastic bag charges over the last 10 years was “shocking”.
“This shows that even with the charges, many are still using plastic bags. This is why a more rigorous implementation is needed on existing regulations,” he said.
He said a nationwide ban on plastic bags is not impossible, citing the example of Rwanda, which has made it illegal to import, produce, use or sell plastic bags and plastic packaging, except within specific industries like hospitals and pharmaceuticals.
He said the tough ban on plastic bags in Kenya since August 2017 has proven successful in cleaning up the country, leading other African nations like Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Sudan to consider following suit.
“In China, a ban on thin plastic bags led to a 60 to 80 per cent reduction in its use in supermarkets, while in Denmark and Finland, the average annual consumption of lightweight plastic bags is only four per person.
“Life without plastic bags is possible, as observed in countries that have imposed strict bans. There is no excuse. It is time we get rid of single-use plastic bags for good,” he said.
Earlier today, Chow said the state government was considering increasing the RM0.20 plastic bag charge to RM0.50.
Chow had said that the suggestion from State Environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh would be put before the stakeholders for discussion before it is approved.
The suggestion, according to Chow, follows the discovery that some 50 per cent of the population were still using plastic bags.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch adviser D. Kanda Kumar said the suggestion to increase the plastic bag charge was welcome, but that the ‘war’ against plastic bags can never be won if a similar charge is not placed on hawker stalls.
“Most of our plastic consumption is from hawker stalls. People buying from hawker stalls rarely carry their own containers.
“If someone buys a few items from different hawker stalls in one centre, they would have already collected several plastic bags.
“The prohibition on plastic bags must be extended to hawker stalls as well,” he said.
He said Penang should also consider implementing a policy requiring malls, supermarkets and other outlets to provide paper bags instead.
“It’s fine if they impose a charge but I think the next step should be a complete ban,” he said.