CAP calls for ban on single-use plastics

GEORGE TOWN: In conjunction with World Environment Day, Consumers’ Associat ion of Penang (CAP) is calling for a ban on single-use plastics.

As the theme for this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, CAP President SM Mohamed Idris called for concrete action in combating one of the greatest environmental challenges.

He highlighted that Malaysian consumers had a habit o f requesting or demanding more single-use or disposable plastics from markets and hawker stalls, as well as using disposable plastic utilities such as cups, straws, cutleries and water bottles in a majority of events, including gatherings, festivals, parties and so on.

Mohamed Idris also quoted Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association, stating that in 2016, an average Malaysian uses 300 plastic bags per year.

“Single-use plastics have caused many minor and major ecological and environmental issues.

Eliminating single-use plastic is a necessary step to decrease the amount of waste and pollution in the long term,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Mohamed Idris also said that he would write a letter to the newlyappointed Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to have single-use products and micro plastics included alongside the nationwide ban on plastic bags.

On May 28, Zuraida made the announcement on implementing a nationwide ban on plastic bags within a year. — Bernama