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GEORGE TOWN (Jun 8): The Penang government is calling on businesses to stop providing plastic bags for shoppers on Mondays even if they are willing to fork out 20 sen for them starting from July 1.
This new policy would however, only involve operators of fixed premises such as hypermarkets, pharmacies, convenience and department stores, State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh told The Star recently.
Phee clarified that the businesses have been urged to do this on a “voluntary basis”.
“We do not want them to do it just because it is a policy.
“We want them to know that the environment belongs to everyone and we should love the environment by not using plastic bags.
“My office will prepare the posters for these operators to encourage consumers to voluntarily stop using plastic bags,” Phee told the daily.
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has welcomed the latest initiative.
“From the extraction of raw materials to the production, usage and disposal, it’s a total scourge and should be eliminated entirely.
“Not all plastics can be, or are recycled and plastic is present in our waters, air and even in our bodies,” CAP acting president Mohideen Abdul Kader told The Star.
"Redesigning products, packaging and delivery systems besides eliminating the use of single-use plastic products and packaging are essential steps to safeguard human health and the environment,” he added.
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