Visitors to Sunshine Central mall in Penang can now leave their spare reusable shopping bags at a designated corner for others to use.
The “Take a Bag, Leave a Bag” initiative at the mixed-use complex in Air Itam, which includes a shopping mall, encourages shoppers and passers-by to take a bag if they need one.
The sustainability idea would also be helpful to shoppers who forget to bring their own bags.
State publisher Buletin Mutiara reported that about 2,000 bags were collected when the initiative was launched nearly a year ago, all of which were snapped up within a month. The challenge now is getting enough bags back into circulation.
Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang said the strong response demonstrated a clear demand for the scheme.
“Those who do not have a bag can take one from the corner, while those with extra bags at home can contribute them for others to use,” he said during a visit.
While the bags are free, Ng said the public could help keep the initiative going by topping up the bags. He added that support from the Penang Green Council, Clarivate, Sunshine and the local community had kept the corner running.
Students from Inti International College Penang have also produced an awareness video to encourage more people to contribute their bags to keep the sharing concept going.
‘Such efforts could help people get accustomed to carrying reusable bags and reduce their reliance on plastic bags.
“We hope this effort can grow gradually with community support,” Ng said.
