Pricey biodegradable products obstacle to achieving no plastic bag use by 2025
18 May 2023 05:49pm
picture for illustrative purposes - FILEPIC
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"This matter is due to costly products and difficulty of getting biodegradable items as well as implementation, which should not be carried out in several locations only, for example in the Federal Territories only," he told Bernama.
He also suggested that the government help hawkers and petty traders to get biodegradable materials as alternatives to plastic bags as well as to control the sale of these items by suppliers in order to achieve the government's vision.
In 2021, residents of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya generated 772,349 tonnes of garbage, and from this amount, 101,949 tonnes or 13 per cent comprised plastics. However, from the plastic waste, only 152.87 tonnes or 16 per cent was recycled.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Food Truck Entrepreneurs Association (KLFTEA) president Muhammad Azlan Abas suggested that enforcement be carried out comprehensively, consistently and strictly to eradicate the use of plastic bags in sales premises.
"For example, we in the food truck industry have banned the use of plastic bags in every event, and strict instructions are given to all hawkers and petty traders to join the food truck programme because we do highlight not using plastic bags and polystyrene boxes, and this education is continued until now.
"Alhamdulillah, at the food truck level, a majority of 90 per cent are using biodegradable products or packaging, and polystyrene boxes for rice are rarely used by food truck operators because it is now a concept," he said.
Muhammad Azlan said enforcement needs to be carried out at the plastic bag suppliers level because it is unfair that action applies only to hawkers and traders while suppliers are still selling plastic bags.
"Enforcement is firstly needed to crack down on those who sell plastic bags, and information needs to be provided to users so it does not become an issue ... that is why action needs to be carried out comprehensively," he added.
On May 9, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government is taking steps to gradually expand the No Plastic Bag Campaign, which is currently implemented in all permanent business premises, in the period from 2022 to 2025.
He said this campaign, implemented with the cooperation of state governments, is the federal government's long-term plan to deal with the issue of single-use plastic waste pollution in Malaysia.
Among the states that have run the campaign are Selangor, Penang, Johor and Negeri Sembilan - BERNAMA
