Use biodegradable containers, Ipoh Mayor tells Ramadan bazaar traders

IPOH: To support the “low carbon city” campaign, the Ipoh City Council is encouraging traders at Ramadan bazaars within their jurisdiction to use biodegradable food containers.

Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said this will be the first local council in Perak to embark on an environmentally-friendly bazaar.

He also urged patrons to bring their own food containers to the bazaars.

“Besides that, we are also urging traders to sell used oil for the purpose of biofuel to companies appointed by the council,” he said.

Rumaizi added that cashless payments and food delivery methods will be implemented at selected bazaars.

Speaking at a press conference after the board meeting here on Wednesday (Feb 15), he added that 19 Ramadan bazaar sites involving 1296 trading spots have been opened by the council to interested parties.

Asked if the council planned to make it mandatory for traders to use biodegradable products, Rumaizi said it was more of an awareness and educational period for the first two years.

He said such implementation involved high cost, and thus it must be carried out in stages.

“This is the first time we are taking such a move to encourage nearly 1,300 traders, as well as patrons to be more environmentally conscious. We hope a day will come when we are able to achieve our target,” he said.

He added that environmentally-friendly tents at these bazaars are part of the City Council's future plans, adding that such matters cannot be carried out in a hurry and must be done prudently.

“Since this will be the first time such a proposal is brought forward, we will see the response this time around, before making any further suggestions,” said Rumaizi.

He also announced that the term of the 25 councillors (including Mayor) ended today and thanked them for their services provided since their appointment on May 1, 2020.

“We will wait for further instructions from the state government on the new appointments. I don’t have the exact date on the appointments, but I am told that it will be soon,” he added.

During his speech earlier, he also said with the full digitisation of the parking services, he encouraged the public to upload the Park@Perak application.

He said although the council had stopped selling physical parking coupons to agents since June 1, last year, the available coupons with the agents could be used until Dec 31 this year.

“After that is fully digitalised, and I am encouraging people to set-up the application as a move to be prepared for next year,” he added.