Malaysia: Shoppers to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag on Saturdays

The Star 2 Jan 11;

PETALING JAYA: Shoppers throughout the country will now have to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag when they shop at hypermarkets, supermarkets and Petronas service stations on Saturdays.

The move, which is already in force in Selangor and introduced to reduce the eight billion plastic bags used each year in Malaysia, caught many shoppers by surprise.

Other developments:

> The sum charged will go to a special fund which will benefit the environment and community;

> Shoppers in Penang will have to pay for their bags in these outlets every day; and

> Plastic industry players in Penang have expressed unhappiness, vowing to distribute 30,000 free bags in defiance of the move.

Nationwide green campaign begins at various outlets
Reports by DHARMENDER SINGH, DERRICK VINESH, MANJIT KAUR, MARTIN CARVALHO, SYLVIA LOOI, SHAUN HO, ZALINAH NOORDIN, K. ASHRAF KAMMED and SHARIN SHAIK
The Star 2 Jan 11;

PUTRAJAYA: Starting immediately, all hypermarkets, supermarkets and Petronas stations nationwide will no longer give out free plastic bags on Saturday.

Shoppers who do not bring their own plastic bags or “green bags” will be charged 20 sen for each bag they need from these outlets.

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry launched yesterday a simultaneous nationwide campaign to encourage more outlets to take part in the effort to reduce the usage of plastic bags.

In a statement, the ministry said it had met with retailers to discuss the effort to minimise the use of plastic bags and more of them were expected to take part in the campaign.

It said money collected from the “sale” of plastic bags would be channelled into a special fund for environment preservation and protection programmes as well as to finance activities for consumers and the community.

Shoppers in Penang, however, will have to pay 20 sen per plastic bag every time they request for it from hypermarkets, chain stores and supermarkets.

Proceeds from the plastic bag sale in Penang would be channelled to the state’s Partners Against Poverty scheme to wipe out hardcore poverty.

The ministry said the campaign was launched as its projection showed that Malaysians would create 30,000 tonnes of solid waste daily by the year 2020.

Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said hypermarkets nationwide distributed about 90 to 100 million plastic bags a year and about 20 million litres of petroleum was used to produce them.

“Imagine how much we can save from reducing the usage of plastic bags,” she added.

Launching the state-level campaign in Butterworth, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the ruling on free plastic bags would take effect from yesterday.

“We understand that the campaign may cause some inconvenience to the people, but the state government is willing to lose its popularity to protect the environment for our future generations,” he said.

He reminded operators of mini markets and shops to observe the “no free plastic bag day” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays or risk losing their business licence.

Plastic bag makers unhappy over ban implementation
The Star 2 Jan 11;

PETALING JAYA: The no free plastic bag ruling — only on Saturday nationwide and every day in Penang — has drawn mixed reactions from interested parties.

While the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) supports the ruling, the Malaysian Plastics Forum (MPF) and the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) are unhappy with the decision taken by the federal and the Penang state governments.

“Plastic does not pollute the environment. It is the person that uses is who pollutes. I think there is plenty of misconceptions floating around about plastic bags,” said MPF chairman Lim Kok Boon.

He said the authorities should focus more on creating awareness of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), rather than banning the use of plastic bags.

MPMA northern branch chairman Willy Tan said the association would distribute 30,000 free plastic bags with an explanation on the myths surrounding plastic bags printed on them from today through newspaper vendors.

Fomca executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj lauded the no free plastic bag ruling and said it was the first step towards encouraging people to recycle and reuse.

Penang Gerakan environmental bureau head Tan Chai Liang said the state government should consult the plastic industry to work out a better plan before implementing a total ban on free plastic bags in the state.

He said any change in business plans should be implemented gradually and noted that plastic manufacturers and the industry have been part of the state’s economy.

Penang shoppers laud move to save the environment
The Star 2 Jan 11;

GEORGE TOWN: Many shoppers in Penang have given the thumbs-up for the “no free plastic bags” ruling in the state.

An expatriate from Germany, Husne Kaya, 40, said she was shocked to see the way Malaysians used plastic bags.

Kaya who was shopping at Sam Batik House on Penang Road said back in her home country, people would bring their own reusable bags or pay if they wanted plastic bags.

“I’m happy with the programme implemented here,” she said.

Tourist R. Kamachi, 30, from Singapore also lauded the move.

“We need to save the environment and this is a good start. In Singapore, we do have a similar ruling as well,” she said.

Damithah Fisson, 26, from Alor Setar said other states should follow the example set by Penang to save our planet.

A check at several stores and supermarkets showed that most were adhering to the ruling.

However, checks at several outlets in Batu Feringghi showed that plastic bags were still being given for free at mini markets, tailor shops and souvenir shops.

Sunshine Wholesale Mart general manager Yee Kam Ming said being the first day, many shoppers forgot to bring their own bags.

He said only 20% of the shoppers had brought their own bags, while the rest had to be provided with paper boxes and brown recycled bags.

“I hope the public will start preparing themselves by bringing their own bags.

“But there is a need for more publicity so that the message reaches everyone. Then, we don’t need to remind our customers repeatedly about the new ruling,” he added.

Supermarkets and petrol stations give full support to new ruling
The Star 2 Jan 11;

PETALING JAYA: The “no free plastic bag day” ruling on Saturday at hypermarkets, supermarkets and Petronas stations nationwide was launched simultaneously in all states yesterday.

Perak Domestic Trade, Coopera­tives and Consume­rism Depart­ment assistant director Amer Mansor said the ruling received full support from hypermarkets, supermarkets and all Petronas stations.

Launching the state-level campaign in Ipoh, Amer advised shoppers to bring their own bags if they needed to shop on that day or pay 20 sen for each plastic bag.

However, many shoppers were caught unawares and had come without their own bags.

A shopper who declined to be named said she was not aware of the campaign. She ended up loading all her groceries into a trolley to take them to her car.

In Malacca, Transport and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk R. Perumah said it was the start of the state’s green campaign.

“Hypermarkets, supermarkets and other outlets are free to extend the ruling beyond Saturdays if they wish,” he said.

He also added that shoppers could buy reusable grocery bags sold at hypermarkets and supermarkets for between RM1 and RM5 depending on size and design as a long-term alternative to plastic bags.

In Putrajaya, officials from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry distributed pamphlets on the campaign and free reusable cloth bags to shoppers.

In Klang, ministry deputy secretary-general Mahani Tan Abdullah urged traders and consumers to work together to reduce the use of plastic bags.

“This is in line with the efforts to ensure a healthier and safer environment for the people,” said Mahani when launching the Selangor level campaign at AEON Bukit Tinggi yesterday.

AEON corporate social responsibility and corporate branding general manager Noryahwati Mohd Noh said the company had saved 10 million plastic bags since the Selangor government implemented the “no free plastic bag” ruling two years ago.