THE ban on plastic straws has been in effect in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan since January, and in Selangor this month.
Yet, apart from signs in eateries stating that straws are available only on request, there has been no marked decline in its use.
Straws are given by default, and when I asked the eatery staff why plastic straws continue to be put in drinks by default, the response is that customers often scold them and demand straws.
This shows that the straw “ban” is not a ban but merely an advisory.
It will have no impact on reducing plastic production, consumption or waste in Malaysia, and is just a publicity exercise.
There is no binding force to this advisory and no penalties or charges for those who use plastic straws.
The advisory is also ineffective because plastic straws, as well as other single-use products, are easily available.
Further, the purported “ban” does not extend to hawker stalls, catering services or even bubble tea shops.
There is insufficient pressure on plastic manufacturers to declare their plastic use, set plastic reduction targets, and redesign products and packaging to use less plastic.
Recycling technology isn’t good enough because of limitations in how plastics can be sorted by chemical composition and cleaned of additives.
For awareness and educational campaigns to work, there must be a corresponding ban on the production, import, sale and use of single-use plastic packaging, a higher focus and incentive for switching to reusable and bio-degradable alternatives, and setting of reduction targets for manufacturers and businesses.
One of the most effective ways to bring about a measurable reduction in plastic waste within a timeline is to get manufacturers and businesses to set targets.
Companies should not focus on facilitating and encouraging recycling, but on reducing the amount of plastics used, and designing their products and packaging to use recycled or bio-degradable plastic.
Malaysia cannot achieve pollution and waste reduction targets by waiting for consumers to do the right thing and by protecting manufacturers and the plastic industry.
WONG EE LYNN
Petaling Jaya, Selangor