‘Charge for using plastic bags may go up’
GEORGE TOWN: A move by Penang to increase the charge on plastic bag use from 20 sen to 50 sen a piece will only be implemented once discussion and feedback from various stakeholders are taken into account.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, during an state executive council meeting yesterday, had suggested increasing the plastic bag charge.
He said this was to intensify the state’s plastic bag usage awareness campaign.
Chow said the proposal followed the discovery that many consumers were willing to fork out 20 sen for plastics bags.
“Since we started the no plastic bag policy in 2009, we had collected about RM8 to RM9 million. This sum shows consumers were willing to pay for the bags and the charge did not deter them.
“Phee feels that the 20 sen charge is not high enough and imposing a higher charge will create better awareness.
“I have asked for multiple sessions of engagement with stakeholders to be conducted before any decision is made,” he said.
He said this after attending the “Inspiring Future Leaders” conference organised by the Penang Women Chamber of Commerce here yesterday.
Chow said there were no concrete plans to increase the charges at the moment.
“It is only a suggestion but we can see from the response and reaction that it had already increased awareness,” he said.
The chief minister said the issue of plastic bag usage must be taken seriously as it had huge impact on the environment.
“Plastic disposal is a problem as it’s found in rivers and many places leading to pollution.
“Our plastic bag usage awareness campaign is to ensure that our environment is not polluted,” he said.
Chow said the state government had also started the no-single-use plastic policy at its administrative offices and found that the effort had massively reduced plastic usage in offices.
“Even though plastic can be recycled and that some people think it’s an industry, but we, however, feel this effort needs to involve everyone.
“The state government can only control certain things and need other stakeholders to step in and help to curb plastic usage.”
Chow also acknowledged that enforcement was needed to eradicate all forms of pollution in the state, including from plastics.
“There will be a time in the future when we will ban plastic bag usage altogether. This issue will also be raised in the stakeholder meetings,” he said.