Guys, we better take note of this!
The Malay Mail reported that the Penang government is requesting that businesses within the state stop providing plastic bags on Mondays, starting 1st July 2019. Oh dang!
This means that people who forget to bring a reusable bag when they are out shopping will not be given the option to pay “the nominal 20 sen” per a plastic bag fee at the checkout.
Source: Amsterdam News
Penang Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh shared,
“We do not want them to do it just because it is a policy. My office will prepare the posters for these operators to encourage consumers to voluntarily stop using plastic bags.”
Having said that, this new initiative is expected to affect people who frequently shop in the kinds of places mentioned below:
- Hypermarkets
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Convenience stores
- Department stores
Source: The Malay Mail
If you didn’t know, this latest move by Penang is another step towards their goal of zero-plastic bag usage, an initiative which started in July 2009. Previously, 20 sen per plastic bag was charged if the customers forget to bring their own reusable bags when out shopping.
As a result of the “20 sen per bag” initiative, the Penang government has collected RM8.9 million in plastic bag fees from 2009 up until March 2019. The money was “channelled into social economic programmes under its Agenda Ekonomi Saksama for low-income homes”. Ah, that’s nice!
This seems like a good initiative to do away with plastic bags once and for all. What’s your take on this matter? Fire away in the comments below!
Also read: Penang May Be Banning Single Use Straws And Polystyrene Very Soon!
