Perak must stick to ban

I REFER to the announcement by the Perak mentri besar to put on hold the banning of the use of plastics including polystyrene. He said more studies need to be done.
We understand the concern about the implication of the ban on the livelihood of business people especially small traders who use cheap plastic bags and polystyrene to pack food. The ban may force them to use bio-degradable bags which will add to costs.
When Perak environment committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria announced the ban in April 2016, he said it would be enforced in stages starting with state buildings in June 2016, citing that their cafeterias would have to use biodegradable packs on Fridays. From January 2017, the ban will be daily. At the same time it will be enforced at the premises of local councils. In the final stage from next month the usage of polystyrene and plastic bags will be banned statewide, especially in supermarkets and sundry stores.
After the announcement, Ipoh City Watch (ICW) held a discussion with Malaysian Plastic Manufacturing Association of Perak (MPMA) to organise a forum. Datuk Rusnah Kassim, the state committee chairman for local government, in her speech, gave an ultimatum to MPMA to come up with proposal on how to solve the littering problems especially due to indiscriminate dumping of plastics.
Perak is not the only state to ban plastics and polystyrene. Malacca, Johor, Penang and Selangor have done so. According to a survey, 80% of the residents in Selangor and Penang support the move.
Countries that have banned the use of plastics such as Denmark, China, and the US have shown at least 50% reduction of plastics and polystyrene garbage.
We urge the Perak government to review its decision. The ban can still be enforced on June 1 but it must be implemented in a way to educate people. The government can provide incentives to traders and supermarkets and shops should charge consumers for plastic bags to encourage them to bring their own bags. The money collected can be used to support NGOs that promote recycling and waste management.
We also urge the plastic industry in Perak through MPMA to support the effort. The ban must not be seen as causing hardship. MPMA members must start using alternatives. They should support NGOs educating the public to dispose plastics and polystyrene properly.
The local authority must provide enough garbage bins, step up enforcement and nab the culprits who dump garbage indiscriminately. Pasar malam and pasar karat traders must be told to dispose their garbage properly. It can be done by including it as part of the licensing requirement. Local councils must make cleanliness and recycling a part of their key performance indicators.
ICW is promoting cleanliness in line with its aim to make Ipoh the most liveable city in Malaysia. Our members have set up Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Berhad or Kohijau to provide a solution for waste management through its high-technology Kohijau-icycle recycling system.
The system rewards members with points which can be redeemed for cash, supermarket coupons or donations to charity organisations. We collect all items except organic waste. These include plastics and polystyrene.
Associate Professor Dr Richard Ng
Chairman
Ipoh City Watch