PETALING JAYA, 26 SEPT – A total of 20 supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores as well as pharmacy, health and beauty chain stores will stop using plastic bags completely in their 8,000 business premises starting 1 October.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government, Nga Kor Ming, said among those participating in the initiative were 99 Speedmart, Aeon, 7-Eleven, TF Value Mart and Guardian.
“Some have already implemented this initiative, but today they signed the Pledge to pledge to implement it on a large scale from next week. If customers do not bring their own bags, they can buy recycled bags at the store,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after launching the ‘No Single Use Plastic Bags’ campaign today.
Nga said through the implementation of the initiative, the use of 200 million plastic bags per year is expected to be reduced, thereby reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of and helping to extend the lifespan of existing landfills.
He said the government had to bear the high cost of solid waste management and public cleaning, amounting to RM2 billion a year, and was trying to reduce dependence on landfill sites.
“Currently, Malaysia has 114 unsanitary landfills and 22 sanitary landfills. The opening and upgrading of landfills requires very high costs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nga said Malaysia’s Washing Day, which will be held nationwide this Saturday, will be listed in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the biggest getong-royong program in history. – Named
