Not in the bag yet: As the government targets a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags by 2026, some traders say that the higher cost of biodegradeable plastic bags makes it tough for traders to switch to the environmentally-friendly option. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Many eateries moving away from single-use plastic ahead of proposed nationwide ban
PETALING JAYA: Many restaurants have already begun using eco-friendly options ahead of a possible nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags by 2026.
Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietor General Association president Wong Teu Hoon said a number of restaurants and kopitiam outlets have started using environmentally-friendly bags for their takeout orders.
“However, some businesses charge extra for these bags, while others absorb the cost.
“If they buy in bulk, eco-friendly plastic bags can be a little cheaper but these can’t be stored for too long as they may disintegrate,” he said.
Wong said the biggest challenge concerned hawkers providing takeout for food such as kuey teow soup and wantan mee, as many of them still prefer using single-use plastic bags.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry said last week it is considering a national ban on single-use plastic bags by 2026.
In a written reply to the Dewan Rakyat, the ministry said the ban was already in force in Negri Sembilan, Penang, and Kota Kinabalu. In the federal territories, the use of conventional single-use plastic bags has mostly stopped, with biodegradable ones being promoted.
The ministry said it is also reviewing the implementation of the “user pays” principle.
When contacted, Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said most of its member restaurants are now using wax paper or water-resistant wrappers.
“For the gravy for nasi kandar, we need to consider using small containers to replace plastic bags. This may be more competitive in terms of pricing.
“So far, there have been no complaints from our customers in urban areas, as they understand the necessity of reducing plastic bag usage while maintaining the same prices.”
He said there is a need to gradually shift to paper bags as an alternative to single-use plastic bags.
“We can’t force anyone to change immediately. People need time and awareness to change their habits. And that is the government’s role, not ours,” he added.
Jawahar said the government should educate the public through campaigns.
“We have just more than a year to achieve this if the minister’s statement about 2026 materialises,” he added.
He said Presma was supportive of the government’s efforts to reduce plastic bag usage in retail businesses, but the primary campaign should be led by government agencies.
For now, some eateries are grappling with the costs and the question of whether Malaysian diners are prepared to pay for takeaway bags.
“Customers would willing pay for their roti canai, yet when I ask for 20sen or 30sen for the use of a plastic bag, they look like they’re about to beat me up,” said restaurant owner C. Krishnan.
“The reaction has been intense.”
Krishnan, who is Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) deputy president, said while he is shifting the cost of plastic bags to his customers, few Indian restaurants may follow suit.
He found that customers would willingly pay for plastic bags in supermarkets but resist doing so in restaurants.
“This resistance often places restaurant owners in difficult situations, as the owners fear negative reactions from diners when they attempt to charge a small fee for the use of plastic bags,” he said.
The government, he said, should do more to support businesses in transitioning from single-use plastic bags.
He said many small operators were struggling with the higher cost of using biodegradable options.
However, he believes that prices would drop as demand for these alternatives begins to rise, making them more affordable.
Petty Traders and Hawkers Association president Datuk Rosli Sulaiman said biodegradable plastic costs more than regular plastic.
“For instance, a pack of 12x16 biodegradable plastic bags costs RM6.50 while the same size for regular plastic is only RM2,” he said.
This price disparity, he added, makes it tough for traders to switch to environmentally-friendly options.
Rosli said he found that many wet market traders are still using conventional plastic because of its affordability.
