It’s abundant and available
M’sia No. 8 worldwide in mismanaged plastic waste pollution
GEORGE TOWN: Studies showed that in 2010 Malaysia alone produced 0.94 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste, of which 0.14 to 0.37 million tonnes may have been washed into the oceans.
“This has placed Malaysia as number eight internationally in mismanaged plastic waste pollution.
“Malaysia is the fourth largest plastic exporter in Asean and ranked number 25 in global plastic exports in 2017,” State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said.
Phee, who is also vice-chairman of Penang Green Council, said a survey conducted by the council showed that vast consumption of plastic by consumers was due to its abundance and availability.
“Plastics were given by default to consumers during their purchases as its convenient, disposable and affordable for business operators,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
The survey which targeted consumers and business operators, was held to understand the public perception on the implementation to ban single- use plastics in Penang.
“Among the 1,948 consumers who responded, 60% agreed businesses should be prohibited from giving out single-use plastics by implementing the reward and penalty system when consumers bring their own containers.
“It’s because about half of the respondents would dispose these single-use items after usage, 29.5% would place them in recycle bins and 19.6% will reuse the items,” he said.
He added that the 231 businesses that took part in the survey included restaurants (51.5%), food outlets/ food courts (22.1%), cafes (15.6%), hotels and other types of food and beverage operators.
“Penang started off with ‘No Free Plastic Bag’ campaign in July 2009 and by 2011, we implemented the ‘Everyday is No Free Plastic Bags Day’ campaign in all hypermarkets and supermarkets.
“This year, Penang is entering another phase of No Single-Use Plastic by kicking off the ‘Tak Nak Penyedut Minuman Plastik’ campaign as we move towards a greener state and to align with Malaysia’s ambition to be single-use plastics free by 2030,” he added.
Under the ‘Malaysia’s Roadmap towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030’, single-use plastics refer to straws and carrier bags.
There will be no more single-use plastics by 2030 under an ambitious plan that will see local councils imposing a “pollution charge” and a “no straw by default” policy.
The roadmap also sees the implementation of a circular economy for recycling as well as positioning Malaysia as a leader in recycling technology and industry within the region.