CHANGING public behaviour and consumption habits is key to reducing waste and moving Penang towards a circular economy, says Penang Green Council (PGC) chief executive officer Josephine Tan.
She said environmental efforts should not stop at recycling, but begin with reducing consumption and waste, followed by reusing items before recycling them.
“Many people already understand the importance of protecting the environment, but there is still a gap between knowing and doing.
“For example, people might know they should bring reusable bags, reduce single-use items and separate their waste, but they would easily fall back into old habits when it was inconvenient,” she told StarMetro.
She cited the state’s efforts to reduce single-use plastic bags, from the “No Free Plastic Bag” campaign and plastic bag charges to the “No Plastic Bag Every Day” initiative introduced in September 2025.
“This year, we are further promoting measures to reduce single-use plastic bags and items such as straws.
“The aim is not simply to ban these items, but to gradually change the habits of consumers and businesses,” she said.
Tan said PGC had also introduced the “Pilihlah Reusable” concept, encouraging people to choose reusable products in their shopping, dining and daily activities.
As part of the initiative, Rebag Stations have been set up at Gama Supermarket and Departmental Store, Gurney Plaza and Design Village, where people can donate excess reusable bags for others to use.
“An item that you no longer need does not necessarily mean it has become waste.
“We want people to think about whether something can be reused or given to someone else before throwing it away,” she said.
Tan said public participation should not be viewed solely as a matter of compliance, as behavioural change also required convenient alternatives, clear information and a supportive environment.
“This means we need to work with local authorities, businesses, schools, communities and other stakeholders to make environmentally friendly choices more accessible,” she added.
Tan also urged the public to consider donating, selling, exchanging or sending unwanted but usable items to organisations and shops that accepted pre-owned items, instead of treating them as rubbish.
“Recyclable materials should be sent to legitimate recycling facilities and operators.”
She said the public could also use PGC’s Mampan directory (www.pgc.com.my/ms/direktori-mampan/) to locate nearby recycling centres, environmental facilities and second-hand goods shops.
“Penang already has a strong environmental foundation and more people are willing to participate.
“The next challenge is to turn environmental protection from a one-off activity into a daily habit and part of our social culture,” she said.
Tan said legislation and policies could discourage certain behaviour, but lasting change required people to understand why change was necessary and have practical alternatives.
“Ultimately, the circular economy is about changing how we see the value of an item, as well as how we consume and dispose of things,” she said.
