State-enforced pollution charge on single-use plastic by 2021

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 17): Malaysia may introduce a state-enforced pollution charge on single-use plastics on businesses by 2021, said Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, and Climate Change, Yeo Bee Yin.

The states have agreed to the mechanism, which is part of Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Single-Use Pastics 2018-2030, Yeo told reporters after the launch of the roadmap today.

“State governments, through its local councils, will decide on how they want to [impose the pollution charge],” she said.

Yeo said that the reason the federal government leaves this matter in its initial stage to the states is because “different states have different awareness levels”.

“From 2019 to 2021, this will require the efforts of local governments. And [the consensus] is that in these three years, they will announce [its implementation by state],” she added.

The monies will then be collected into a fund which be used in future for redressing plastic pollution, research and development (R&D) on eco-friendly alternatives, as well as incentives to manufacturers, among others.

When asked if there are concerns that the charges might be passed down to consumers, Yeo said: “No, eventually the people will use [reusable] shopping bags. What we want is a change of behaviour... It [also] depends on the respective states on how they want to impose it (the pollution charge).”

In the meantime, Yeo said the government intends to facilitate a business case for the production of biodegradable bags and other alternatives to single-use plastic products to cater to its demand in a sustainable manner.

Under the roadmap, Putrajaya is considering stepping up and imposing a pollution levy on manufacturers of plastic bags during the second phase of the roadmap (2022-2025).

Other single-products such as water bottles will also be included in the roadmap, during the second phase. At the same time, a legal framework on single-use plastics will also be introduced.

In the third phase (2026-2030), the roadmap underlines a “substantial increase in the volume of production of local biodegradable and compostable alternative products for local consumption”, among others.

“The most important thing right now is to facilitate and catalyse growth of biodegradable and alternatives for conventional plastics,” Yeo added. — theedgemarkets.com

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