THE Penang government is determined to put a stop to the single-use of plastic in the state.
State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the state government has implemented the ‘No To Plastic Straw’ campaign as the initial approach.
“Penang’s ‘No To Single-Use Plastic’ campaign is in line with Malaysia’s roadmap towards Zero Single-Use Plastic (2018-2030) launched by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC),” said Phee during his winding up speech at the state assembly yesterday.
“Basically, the ‘No To Plastic Straw’ campaign will be using the ‘phasing out’ approach.
“All premises that provide drinks and food are automatically involved in the campaign.
“Food and beverage premises are no longer permitted to provide a space where customers can get access to plastic straws.
“Plastic straws will only be given to customers upon their request and will not be given by default to them each time they purchase food or drinks.
“The premises (food and beverage) are allowed and also encouraged to use ‘substitute items’ to replace plastic straws such as those made from organic materials.”.
According to Phee, it is a compulsory for the existing food and beverages premises as well as those who would be operating restaurants, food and beverage outlets, coffee shops, cafes, pubs, convenience stores, convenience stores at petrol stations, food courts, hawker centres, food complexes, food vendors (operating in vehicles), markets, uptown markets, canteens and hawkers to implement the policy.
The enforcement of this campaign (Say No To Plastic Straw) will be done in three phases.
“The first phase revolves on an educational campaign for the first six months (April – September 2019), the second phase (October 2019-March 2020) is on educational enforcement and the final phase (April 2020 and so forth) is on full enforcement,” added Phee, who is also the Sungai Puyu assemblyman.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting