GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is working on getting manufacturers to do away with needless packaging, says state environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.
If the cardboard box housing a tube of toothpaste is to be trashed immediately after it is opened, why have it in the first place, he asked.
“Since that box is of no use to the consumer, we want to see if manufacturers can sell toothpaste and other products without fancy boxes and packaging,” he said.
While Penang’s waste recovery or recycling rate of 50% exceeds the national average of 31.52%, the state wants to also tackle the issue of unnecessary product packaging that uses materials like plastic film and cardboard boxes.
“Some film packaging is so complex that it can have as many as seven or even 12 layers of materials,” Phee said, adding that the layers can include silk-screening, cellophane, polyethylene, oxygen and light barriers, paper, and adhesives.
Separating these microlayers for recycling is a huge technical challenge, so he said the state was working on a two-pronged strategy to get product manufacturers to do away with needless packaging while pooling together global industry experts to do a feasibility study on the next level of curbing plastic pollution in Penang.
Penang’s by-law on waste segregation at source was enacted and enforced in 2016.
Although it took a great deal of public education and enforcement, Penang Green Council (PGC) general manager Josephine Tan said since it was implemented, many households now practice waste segregation at home.
“Penangites are now equipped with the basic knowledge of segregating waste after almost six years of education and awareness campaigns,” she said.
Tan said the policy was implemented to significantly divert, reduce waste and lengthen the lifespan of Pulau Burung landfill.
She said between 2016 and last year, almost 2,000 compounds were issued to the public for not segregating their waste.
“A total of 211 compounds were issued by the Penang Island City Council and 1,773 by the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP),” she said.
MBSP mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad said public attitude was a major challenge in implementing waste segregation at home.
“The implementation is very much dependent on the individual’s awareness of the importance of segregating waste,” he said.
He said RM349,750 in compounds have been collected since 2018.
Penang’s waste segregation at source by-law requires households and businesses to separate recyclable waste (paper, plastic and aluminium cans/ iron/ metal) and general waste.
Those who fail to separate their household waste face fines of RM250 per offence.
Persistent offenders will be taken to court, where a fine of up to RM2,000, a year’s jail or both await them.
