Penang launches study on plastic use to improve waste management

GEORGE TOWN – Penang has launched a six-month study on consumer use of plastic films and flexible packaging in the state, to provide recommendations on managing such waste.

The study will be led by the Penang Green Council and sponsored by four recyclers as well as non-governmental organisations, in partnership with FFM Bhd, Fonterra, the Circulate Initiative and Thong Guan Industries Bhd.

Council general manager Josephine Tan said in a press conference that a similar study carried out during the lockdown found that the growth of online shopping has triggered three to four times more use of plastic bags – a 6% increase from pre-pandemic days.

She added that there is a 7% increased use of plastic food containers due to the reliance on deliveries.

Meanwhile, state environment and welfare executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said the study would provide an understanding of consumer behaviour patterns when it comes to using flexible plastic packaging.

He added that there is a need to promote upcycling rather than just recycling – and that it is better to have consumers supporting its sustainable initiatives instead of depending on punitive laws to deter indiscriminate dumping.

“We observed that when the policing is not there, people will continue to litter because they do not buy into the need to preserve the environment. 

“So, harsh laws may not help as our enforcers cannot be around all the time.”

In addition, the state wants to rope in the private sector here to participate in its green initiatives, he said.

Currently, Penang has limited single-use plastic at retail outlets to the weekends and eventually aims to ban all forms of plastic, especially those that cannot be recycled.

Phee also fielded questions about the use of an incinerator, saying that technology has improved and can be considered to be used for waste management.

He expects a gasification plant to be set up in Ampang Jajar on the mainland in three years.

He also urged civil society groups to work with the recycling plants operating out of Bukit Minyak in Bukit Mertajam to boost recycling initiatives. – The Vibes, September 10, 2022