Shopping Malls In Penang To Increase The Price Of Plastic Bags From 20 Sen To RM1
However, the change will only take effect in 2023.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Oct 2019, 12:51 PM
Plastic bags are going to get costlier in Penang
Penang environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was reported saying by The Star that the price of plastic bags is set to increase to RM1 from its current 20 sen.
"Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change Ministry has approved this proposal. We will follow up with this plan after enforcement of the no single-use plastics begins in 2021," Phee was quoted as saying.
However, the price increase will only take effect in 2023
According to Phee, while the Ministry has given its approval, they do not plan to carry out the price increase immediately as they want to give more time for creating awareness, along with giving manufacturers and businesses some time to adapt to the changes.
"Public awareness on the need to reduce the usage of plastic bags must be strengthened and the state government will carry out more dialogue sessions with manufacturers and shopping malls before implementing the policy.
"We will give them enough time to adjust and adapt to the changes and our goal is to implement it completely by 2023," he was quoted as saying by the English daily.
The latest announcement varies from the Penang government's initial proposed plan in March
Back then, the state government had proposed charging 50 sen for each plastic bag.
In a report dated 30 March, New Straits Times had reported that the proposal was supposed to be implemented after discussion and feedback from various stakeholders.
Penang has been actively moving towards a greener policy since about a decade now, when it became the first state in the country to introduce the 'No Free Plastic Bag' campaign every Saturday since 2009, with a charge of 20 sen for each plastic bag.
