MCC to enforce ‘No Plastic Bag’ regulation from Jan 1 next year

MIRI: Miri City Council ( MCC) will enforce a stricter law against supermarket operators who refuse to comply with its new ‘No Plastic Bag’ regulation that will be imposed beginning Jan 1 next year on every Sunday.

Mayor Adam Yii announced this on Monday, saying the stricter law is mainly to push for more usage of biodegradable plastic bags and to cut down the use of polymer plastic bags and styrofoam in the city.

“At the moment, many of these operators lack environmental awareness, and it is of grave concern to us that some, if not all, are too profit- oriented.

“This is causing not only the community’s reliance on plastic bags but also severely causing environmental pollution.

“Therefore, our main intention is to educate and at the same time push for the ‘ no plastic bag’ concept to be accepted and the usage of eco- friendly bag be made part of the people’s lives,” he said.

As for supermarkets that impose 20 sen on each plastic bag, Yii said he had no issue on that matter as the money collected could be used for the community’s wellbeing.

“Of course, I would like to urge the community to abide by the regulation, and make it a habit to cut down on the use of plastic bag in their day-to- day lives, because when everyone is doing their part, the world is better protected,” he said.

Should the implementation bear good result, Yii said they would slowly extend the rule to three days a week, or make everyday a ‘no plastic bag day’.