SHAH ALAM: As Selangor’s no plastic straw policy is due to take effect tomorrow, eateries are gearing up for life without the single use item.
Spiced Pumpkin Cafe and Bakery owner Mas Zuhairin Zubir said notices would be posted throughout the premises in Section 3 to serve as a reminder to customers.
“We stashed away plastic straws from our counters.
“In fact, we had been waiting for such a directive to materialise.
“We will encourage our customers to bring their own straws from tomorrow onwards.
“To deter them from asking for straws, we will charge them 20 sen per paper straw.
“The proceeds will be placed in a charity box to ensure transparency.
“We are not out to make money but because we want people to not ask for it,” she told the New Straits Times today.
However, Mas, who co-founded the outlet with Nurazizarin Kusyair Abd Aziz, said she would still continue to provide plastic straws for drinks such as their speciality milkshakes as it would be difficult to sip due to the thick consistency.
Autism Cafe Project founder Adli Yahya said they had practised the no plastic straws policy since the opening of Kantin Komuniti at the SACC Mall in April this year.
“We do not use plastic straws at all.
“No plastic materials are used except for when a customer takes away food and we have no choice but to use the containers.
“When we opened the canteen, we not only wanted to be an autism friendly place, but also one that is environmentally friendly.
“So, the policy is very much welcomed by us and we are proud to have practised it before Selangor’s decision to do so,” said Adli, who praised the state’s move to ban single use plastic.
Selangor Environment, Green Technology, Science and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian last month announced that all food and beverage outlets in the state would be barred from providing plastic straws, with the item being given only upon request.
Beginning tomorrow, the Selangor state government will also ban the use of plastics at its functions and offices in line with Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030 that was approved by the cabinet at the federal level.
Departments and agencies are to replace plastic water bottles with glasses or water jugs, to stop using plastic wraps for sauces, and to refrain from providing plastic plates, cups, cutlery and straw; as well as providing water dispensers.
Civil servants as well visitors are urged to bring reusable food containers, cutlery and straws for personal use and to use woven bags to store food and beverages bought from the cafeteria.
Hee had said earlier that this would be enforced at the state secretariat building, departments and agencies such as the Land and District Office, state statutory bodies, local councils as well as subsidiaries under the state administration.