GEORGE TOWN – A study shows the majority of people relying on plastic bags during weekends in Penang are mostly foreign workers and tourists, said state Environment exco Phee Boon Poh.
The study, he said was based on feedback received from retailers in the state.
He also indicated that locals have mostly adopted reusable containers when shopping or purchasing food.
Since Penang's decision last year to ban the distribution of plastic bags at all retail outlets, eateries and healthcare facilities from Monday to Wednesday each week, he said a spike in the use of plastic bags has been recorded each week between Thursday and Sunday.
“The data we gathered shows the culprits are mostly the foreign workers and tourists who do not realise Penang’s move to dissuade the use of plastic bags.”
Plastic bags are now available in Penang but at the cost of RM1 each at supermarkets, hypermarkets, grocers, convenience outlets, sundry shops, malls and private hospitals, as well as at wet and dry markets including night residential markets.
The total ban on plastic bags in Penang is enforced from Monday to Wednesday weekly.
Some outlet operators, including eateries and private retail stores, have gone one step further by banning the dispensing of plastic bags to consumers on a daily basis.
Phee said Penang is presently the leading state for recycling, with an average monthly rate of 48% compared to the nation’s average of 32%.
However, he pointed out that plastic waste, especially non-recyclable items, continue to dominate solid waste dump sites, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw a surge in plastic packaging for food and healthcare waste consisting of test kits and personal protection equipment.
In an effort to reduce such waste, Phee has mooted that the state government should coordinate with online food delivery services and street hawkers, especially with a strategic campaign to be launched soon.
“The campaign will focus on reusing water tumblers to complement current efforts to popularise the use of tiffin carriers as well.”
“The state is also working with retailers and food outlets to provide incentives to entice consumers to reuse tumblers when they pack drinks from their hawkers, as eateries tend to provide their own recyclable packaging for drinks.”
“Penang plans to distribute 17,000 reusable tumblers to hawkers in the state to encourage them to convince consumers to rely on it instead of plastic packaging.
“To instil the right attitude, Penang will also begin to instil appreciation for everything green for the young, with programmes now drawn up at pre-school to primary school levels.
“Once people appreciate the need for recycling, things should improve.”
Earlier, Phee also attended the pre-launch of World Clean-Up Day – which will be held on September 19 – a collaboration between Aimpactz Social Enterprise and the Penang Green Council.
Aimpactz founder Choong Jian Ming said that the clean-up programme will focus on 60 selected areas throughout the state.
“In 2019, 900 volunteers participated and this year, Penang aims to attract up to 3,600 people to join in the cause to clean up the state.
“It is a global event,” said the council’s general manager Josephine Tan Mei Ling.
Public areas which would receive attention include beaches, public community spaces, recreational parks and urbanised pathways. – The Vibes, August 15, 2022
