By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Effective June 1, 2023, all business premises in Ipoh will charge 20 sen for each use of plastic bags in conjunction with the Kempen Tiada Beg Plastik (No Plastic Bag Campaign) on Saturdays every week.
Ipoh Mayor Dato’ Rumaizi Baharin @ MD Daud said the campaign aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags in the community to ensure environmental sustainability.
“This campaign is implemented to support the efforts of the Federal Government which has introduced a uniform policy through the Malaysia Roadmap Towards Zero Single Use Plastic 2018-2030 which was launched on 17 October 2018.
“It will be implemented through the imposition of a pollution charge of 20 cents on each piece of plastic bag supplied by business premises to consumers after a purchase has been made.
“The premises involved in this campaign consist of hyper supermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, petrol station convenience stores, shops and pharmacies.
“A total of 1,378 business premises are involved in this program. The enforcement of the collection of plastic bag charges will be implemented through the issuance of additional conditions in business licenses or permits,” he said after the No Plastic Bag Campaign Launch Ceremony at Dataran MBI here this morning.
For information, the Licensing Department in collaboration with the MBI Environmental Health Department has organized an engagement session with traders on 18 May 2023 involving a total of 120 traders.
Out of that number, 22 (18%) traders (business outlets) have registered as plastic bag-free premises.
Each business premises that supplies and charges 20 cents per plastic bag to consumers will receive a Free Plastic Bag Free Day Premises Participation Certificate.
Meanwhile, business premises that do not supply plastic bags to consumers will receive a Plastic Bag Free Premises Certificate and the issued certificate must be displayed at their respective business premises.
According to him, the collection of the 20 sen charge will be handed over to MBI.
“The proceeds of the collection will be used to implement programs to preserve the environment such as planting trees, holding exhibitions, briefings for school students and the community as well as holding recycling campaigns.
“I hope that the citizens of Ipoh will be more aware of every premise they visit and cultivate the practice of bringing their bags to buy essentials,” he said.
