Yeo: Do away with single-use plastic

Preserving nature: Dr Xavier (second from right) looking at a preserved turtle after the launch of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Symposium and Red List Assessment at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. With him is UMT vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Nor Aeini Mokhtar (fourth from right). — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is aiming to do away with single-use plastic by 2030, as the country tries to shed its reputation as one of the largest producers of plastic waste in the world.

At the forefront of this mission is the Roadmap to Zero Single-Use Plastic 2018-2030, which will be unveiled on Oct 17, says Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

“Malaysia is the eighth largest producer of plastic waste in the world. Plastic waste is the second biggest type of waste in the country after food.

“We need a proper roadmap with clear plans on how we can reduce and even better, eliminate the consumption of single-use plastic by 2030,” Yeo said at a town-hall session here.

The session was held to gather stakeholders’ feedback on plastic waste, which would be incorporated into the drafting of the roadmap.

To encourage people to stop using single-use plastics, Yeo said the government should find ways for alternative solutions that were not only affordable, but accessible to all.

“At the same time, our mission to reduce consumption of single-use plastics must not kill existing plastic manufacturers. We want to help them and everyone else prepare for the future,” said Yeo.

The roadmap will be launched at the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia.

In a statement, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar called on the relevant authorities to suspend all unlicensed plastic waste recycling factories in Selangor.

According to Bernama, the Kuala Langat MP said the unabated recycling activities continued to pollute the environment and posed health risks to nearby residents in his constituency.

He said the activities continued despite his order last month to the Kuala Langat Municipal Council (MDKL) to suspend the operations of all plastic waste recycling factories in Kuala Langat.