Impose total ban on plastic bags, Selangor state urged

Elan Perumal and Stuart Michael The Star 12 Nov 10;

THE Selangor Government has been urged to impose a total ban on plastic bags.

Dr Shafie Abu Bakar (PR-Bangi) urged the state to seriously consider closing down industries directly or indirectly involved in producing plastic bags.

"Why should we allow the usage of plastic bags in the state after being fully aware that they pose a danger to the environment,'' he said, during the debate session.

At this juncture, Speaker Teng Chang Khim intervened by saying that the move would discourage investors.

Dr Shafie said that concern was misplaced as alternative industries could be encouraged.

He was speaking during the winding up by state tourism, consumerism and environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong.

Wong, who described the idea as radical, said it was impossible to impose a total ban on plastic bags.

However, she said, the state's ‘No Plastic Bag Day' campaign on Saturdays had been well received by the people in Selangor.

Earlier during the question-and-answer session, Wong said that the ‘no plastic bags' campaign in Selangor had managed to save four million plastic bags up to October this year, and has garnered 83.6% support from the people.

In reply to a question from Lau Weng San (PR-Kampung Tunku), Wong said the 20 sen per plastic bag collected by the supermarkets under the campaign was channelled to corporate social responsibility programmes thoughout Selangor. They had collected more than RM220,000 from the sale of the plastic bags thus far.

A total of 74 supermarkets have been taking part in the ‘No Plastic Bag Day', which is observed every Saturday since the campaign began.

"We are looking to increase the days in the ‘no plastic bag day' to two from January 2011.

"In June, the Merdeka Centre which carried out a study shows that Selangorians are for this campaign with more than 80% supporting," said Wong.

No plastic rule may cost jobs
Ann Tan The Star 12 Nov 10;

GEORGE TOWN: Some 1,580 people may eventually lose their jobs as a result of the expansion of the no plastic bag ruling in Penang from Jan 1.

Malaysian Plastic Manufac­turers Association northern branch chairman Willy Tan said he expected those employed in the plastic bag manufacturing line by its members to lose their jobs.

“When consumers are not using our plastic bags every day next year, these jobs will vanish,” Tan said during a dialogue between 12 association representatives and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the latter’s office in Komtar yesterday.

Merit Industries Sdn Bhd director E.E. Lim, whose company is a major plastic bag producer in Kamunting, said her sales to three hypermarkets in Penang had dropped from six million bags monthly to only three million.

“What are we going to eat when Penangites are no longer using plastic bags? The 20 sen penalty may be a small amount but it is not cheap to some people,” she said, referring to the amount shoppers had to pay for a plastic bag.

Association president Lim Kok Boon said the ruling would only burden the poor as they would have to pay 40 sen for each garbage bag to discard their rubbish.

“A shopping bag costs four sen each and they used to get it for free from hypermarkets and supermarkets. In the absence of plastic carrier bags, consumers will have to pay for bin liners and this will increase the usage of garbage bags.

“A study in Ireland, the first country to stop giving out free plastic bags, found a 90% drop in plastic bag usage in one month but the usage of garbage bags increased by 400% instead,” he said.

Kok Boon said plastic shopping bags were also more convenient for consumers to tie up their garbage.

Guan Eng asked the association for a report on the possible impact of the ruling to the industry, adding that Penang wanted to know the amount of reduction in revenue and job losses.

“We are not banning plastic bags but we want Penangites to reduce their usage. This is a policy we must undertake and I don’t deny it’ll be a political cost to us,” he said, adding that consumers would take as many shopping bags as they pleased when they were free but being charged for it would make them think of the costs involved.

All hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, pharmacies, fast food restaurants, nasi kandar outlets and convenience stores, including chain stores and those at petrol kiosks, in Penang will have to adhere to the ruling daily from Jan 1 next year.