No plastic bag starts today in Penang

Say no to plastic: Rozali (second from left) and Phee (third from left) advising shoppers at the Billion Shopping Centre to stop using plastic bags and to instead use reusable bags for their groceries.

BUTTERWORTH: A voluntary initiative to stop providing plastic bags to shoppers – even if they are willing to pay for it – starts in Penang today.

Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Datuk Rozali Mohamud said 541 registered premises on the mainland had stepped forward to support the initiative.

“Among them are 152 chain stores, 102 pharmacies, 49 fast food restaurants, 43 convenience stores and 37 fuel stations.

“This means that customers will have to bring their own containers, trolleys or bags when they go shopping in a bid to further cut the use of plastic bags,” he said at Billion Shopping Centre in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

This initiative will start on a voluntary basis and premises which are not supporting it can continue to charge 20 sen for each plastic bag.

Penang Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the campaign was an extension of the successful campaigns against plastic bag usage in the state.

“Penang was the first state in the country to launch the No Free Plastic Bag campaign in 2009.

“In 2011, we created history by being the first state to launch the campaign,” he said.

Billion Shopping Centre (Seberang Jaya) sales manager Ang Hung Kook said about 200 plastic bags were sold monthly at the supermarket.

“We get most of our business on weekends while weekdays are quiet.

“The awareness campaign has reached our customers and they are bringing their own bags,” he said.