KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor is still reviewing how to implement a plastic bag ban, as consumers remain undeterred by the 20 sen charge imposed under an awareness campaign to curb plastic pollution.
State Public Health and Environment exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the state wants to enhance its policies on fighting plastic pollution and is studying three key points.
They are finding the appropriate enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance, the adjustment of levy rates to effectively discourage plastic bag usage, and the suitable duration and frequency of such mechanisms.
An effective plastic bag ban has been on the state’s agenda for more than a year, and it was last announced by the previous environment exco, Hee Loy Sian, in July last year that Selangor was mulling either a weekly two-day ban on plastic bags or raising the levy charged per plastic bag.
He was reported saying last July that the 20 sen levy does not appear to be dissuading people from using plastic bags, as evidenced by the annual increase in the amount collected from the charge.
He said in 2020, RM6.6 million was collected, RM8.5 million in 2021, and RM10.3 million in 2022.
A recent survey by Scoop among consumers reflected this, with some saying that the 20 sen charge gave customers a choice, whereas an outright ban on plastic bags would force them to bring their own reusable bags.
Jamaliah told Scoop that such campaigns were meant to encourage the public to abandon their plastic-loving consumption habits in a collaborative effort, as combating plastic pollution is not the state government’s sole responsibility.
Selangor started the 20 sen levy per plastic bag in 2019.
Before that, it attempted an awareness campaign by banning the use of plastic bags on Saturdays. The state announced a total ban on the use of polystyrene and on free disposable plastic bags as of January 1, 2017.
However, it only meant that plastic bags could still be used by paying the 20 sen charge.
Jamaliah stressed that the state government cannot be the only one putting in effort to curb excessive plastic use, as public support is crucial.
“The plastic levy programme was introduced to educate the public on the environmental impact of plastic.”
“This approach aims to reduce plastic bag usage by imposing a financial disincentive, but the effectiveness of such measures also requires the support of the public and a rigorous environment.
“Without the support and change in (the people’s) mindset, implementing policies such as the one above has its challenges,” she added.
It is the same with the state’s 2019 policy to reduce the use of plastic straws. Jamaliah said it was not a “strict ban” but rather an awareness campaign.
While many eateries are still placing plastic straws in customer’s drinks, Jamaliah said she was encouraged by those that have shifted to plant-based straws.
“I encourage that effort (of using plant-based straws). As much as the government is responsible as the agent of change, the stakeholders and society should also contribute to this.”
She also said the state is still promoting plastic-free habits with the help of various parties, such as the local authorities, community groups, higher education institutes, schools and non-governmental organisations.
At the national level, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced the government’s goal of a total ban on plastic bags for retail purposes in all business sectors by 2025.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Development Network Malaysia chairman Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said that policymakers themselves should set an example to the public in terms of reducing excessive plastic use.
Apart from banning plastic, he said Malaysia should follow effective policies used in other countries.
“There are policies aplenty (in other countries) but our (government) agencies are not sensitised,” he said. – July 13, 2024
