‘No plastic’ for three days campaign in Penang

Nov 28, 2009
The Star

GEORGE TOWN: It is “No Plastic Day” on Tuesdays and Wednesdays too in Penang from Jan 1.

The state government has decided to extend its “No Plastic Monday” campaign against the use of plastic bags to three days in a week.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said all hypermarkets, supermarkets and mini-markets would be required to abide by the ruling for their licences to be renewed under the Local Government Act and Municipal Council of Penang Island (Food Establishments) by-laws.

“Consumers who insist on plastic bags will still pay 20sen per plastic bag, which will then be channelled to the state government’s ‘Partners Against Poverty’ fund to wipe out hardcore poverty,” he said.

Lim said even single stores at shopping malls would now be required to adhere to the ruling on Mondays.

He said according to data provided by 45 supermarkets, hypermarkets and other retailers, Penangites saved on the use of more than one million plastic bags since the campaign kicked off in July.

“To date, we have also collected RM21,403 for the fund for the poor,” he added.

“Due to tremendous public support, the state has decided to extend it to three days after discussion with all stakeholders, including non-governmental groups and plastic manufacturers.”

Penang marts must observe ‘No Plastic Monday’ from Jan

November 21, 2009
The Star
By TUNKU SHAHARIAH

GEORGE TOWN: Effective January next year, all hypermarkets, supermarkets and minimarkets will have to comply with the ‘No Plastic Monday’ if they want to get their licences renewed.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said those applying for new licences will also have to abide by the ruling.

He added, the state was aware that there were irresponsible supermarkets and minimarkets that had flouted the ‘No Plastic Monday’ ruling and had discreetly provided plastic bags to their customers.

He added, the state government was considering extending the four-months ‘No Plastic Monday’ introduced in July so that more people will get used to not using plastic bags.

“According to the data provided by 45 supermarkets, hypermarkets and other retailers, it is estimated that Penangites had saved over one million plastic bags in four months.

“Imagine if we had not embarked on this effort, one million plastic bags would now be contaminating our landfill, drainage and rivers,” he said at the prize-giving ceremony of the ‘Go Green Campaign” at Queensbay Mall Saturday.

Lim said there were 44 other “No Plastic” countries or cities like Penang, which was the first state in the country to cut down on plastic bag consumption through a voluntary programme.

“Even the Federal Government has announced that they will follow suit. All of us in the global community must realise the importance of preserving, protecting and promoting our environment not only for the investors, tourists but also for our future generation,” he added.

Lim said apart from this, other green projects by the state included the planting of 38,635 trees that accounted for 77% of state’s objective for this year.

Earlier, Lim presented a sofa set worth RM6,000 to lucky draw grand prize winner of the “Go Green Campaign” contest, Kam Gaik Mooi, 47 from Penang.

Queensbay Mall advertisement and promotions manager Wendy Wong said the mall was proud to initiate the ‘Go Green Campaign’ where customers who shop with an eco bag and spend a minimum of RM20 at the mall were entitled to participate.

She added that a total of 18,679 contest forms were received between July 6 and Sept 30.

Apart from Kam, six other shoppers received shopping vouchers worth RM100 each as consolation prizes.

Aye to green campaign

Tuesday July 7, 2009
Aye to green campaign
By ANDREA FILMER and CHRISTINA CHIN
Star

THE Penang Government launched the ‘No Plastic Bags Day’ yesterday with one aim — no more free plastic bags to shoppers on Mondays.

Over 300 hypermarkets, mini-markets, departmental stores, pharmacies, pet stores and other participating stores and shops in the state pledged their support for the initiative with the objective of cutting down what the state estimates to be 2.1 million plastic bags distributed in the state each month.

Shoppers in participating outlets were charged 20 sen for each plastic bag yesterday with all proceeds directed to the state’s Partners Against Poverty Cam- paign in aid of the poor.

A visit to Sunshine Square hypermarket in Bayan Baru saw a number of administrative personnel standing by at checkout counters to provide assistance and explain to customers regarding the policy.

Periodical announcements on the green initiative were also broadcast in English, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Tamil over the loudspeaker at the store.

“The policy is new, so explanation has to be done. The cashiers and officers have all been briefed on the policy so they can explain it to customers,” said Sunshine Wholesale Mart general manager Yee Kam Ming.

“Generally, the response has been good especially from foreigners from places like China who have similar policies implemented in their home countries,” he added.

Stacks and stacks of empty cardboard boxes were also seen near checkout counters.

“To start off the policy, we are offering the extra boxes for people to carry their purchases back.

“However, we hope people take well to the initiative and bring their own bags for shopping to help save the environment,” Yee said.

Large shopping chains also took the initiative to offer trendy and sturdy reusable bags to encourage people to use less plastic.

Eye-catching yellow Sunshine shopping bags were on sale at RM2.80 (in comparison to RM3.50 on days other than Mondays) at all Sunshine outlets in the state while Tesco Penang offered two attractive reusable bags — The Big Green Bag (which is blue in colour) and the Natural Green Bag made of jute.

“Our famous ‘Bag for Life’ shopping bags are also on sale for RM0.99 with a promise that they can be exchanged for new ones free of charge if they become torn or damaged,” said Tesco Penang loss prevention manager M. Bhoopalan.

Visits to several participating hypermarkets and departmental stores in the state showed that public response was quite positive to the no plastic bags policy despite a number not being aware that it had started.

“I used to have a friend who was a fisherman and he used to pick up so many plastic bags that were discarded into the sea.

“Since then, my family and I have tried to be vigilant to try and reduce the number of plastic bags we use,” said a retired businessman, who requested to be known only as Goh, 56, at Sunshine Square.

At Parkson Gurney Plaza, two siblings, who only wanted to be known as Havinash and Devesh, said they were unaware of the programme but lauded the move.

“However, it all boils down to the individual’s initiative. Whenever I go shopping, I’ll bring a big bag to dump everything in.

“If I do use a plastic bag, I’ll ask the cashier to pack everything into one bag even if I’m buying several items from different departments,” Havinash said.

Devesh said to discourage the use of plastic bags, participating outlets must stop giving out any sort of bags.

“Malaysians have a ‘tidak apa’ (don’t care) attitude. Making them pay 20 sen for a plastic bag won’t make a difference. We must not give them an option so that they will be forced to bring their own bags,” he said.

Speaking to reporters before distributing ‘No Plastic Bags Day’ pamphlets to shoppers at Pacific Komtar, Gama and Billion Sebe-rang Jaya, state Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said he was “very satisfied” with the response as this was the first time the programme was held.

“The number of participants are increasing even as we speak.

“I’ve received calls not just from retailers but even private hospitals and even a pet shop owner who wanted to participate.

“Some people may say that one day of not using plastic bags won’t make a difference but if it can get people to start thinking about the environment, then that’s something good,” he said.

Phee urged entertainment outlets and cineplexes to show their support by allowing the screening of ‘No Plastic Bags Day’ messages at their outlets.

“We have prepared a 10-second message in Bahasa Melayu, Chinese, Tamil and English for that purpose and are now working on a jingle,” he said.