Perak NGOs say plastic, polystyrene ban long overdue - Malay Mail

4 July 2018 By Loghun Kumaran

In Perak, over 200,000 tonnes of garbage are generated by households and 30 per cent, or about 65,000 tonnes, is made up of plastics. — Istock.com pic via AFP

IPOH, July 4 — Environmental groups in Perak want the state government to revive a proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers and this time, make sure it is carried out.

The groups say it is time for the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to cut down on the use of plastic in the state after a similar plan by its predecessors was not fully implemented.

The present government, they stressed, must not drag its feet about the proposal and other policies to save the environment.

Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said many concerned citizens want the Perak government to emulate the ban in Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and other states on the use of plastic and polystyrene containers.

“Many customers end up using plastic bags to place their garbage before they are dumped illegally or sent to landfills where they will take hundreds of years to decompose,” Ng said.

“There are currently over 2,000 illegal dumpsites in Perak where over 30 per cent are plastics.”

In Perak, over 200,000 tonnes of garbage are generated by households and 30 per cent, or about 65,000 tonnes, is made up of plastics.

Ng said there were many options open to the authorities, but noted a strong political will was needed from the outset.

He said traders should be forced to use recyclable plastic containers, while plastic straws and disposal plastic plates, forks and spoons must be banned.

“The enforcement can be carried out by business licensing authorities like local councils. Traders who ignore this ruling can have their business licence revoked.

“Plastic manufacturers have been warned long ago to change their business so as to adhere to the new sustainable environment requirements.

“There should be no excuse that their business is badly affected by the ruling as there are many industries that have closed down due to destructive technology as well as changes in demography and market demands.”

He suggested that ‘no plastic days’ could be enforced on weekends, where the charges on consumers who insist on using plastic bags could fund non-governmental organisations who educate the public on environmental initiatives.

In 2016, the previous BN administration took a bold step by announcing the first phase of a state-wide ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers.

At the time, it said the move would be implemented in stages — from state government offices in June 2016 to a full public enforcement a year later.

However, the state temporarily called off the ban, saying it would be rescheduled after further studies were carried out.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said such extended studies were unnecessary, given the breadth of sources at the government’s disposal.

“There’s no need for studies to last years at a time, especially when you have multiple agencies. What is needed is a proper mechanism and commitment from the state,” he said.

Meor Razak said the state must make the plastic ban feasible for the public and plastic manufacturing industry.

“They could offer tax exemption or incentives to businesses that support the ban. You can’t expect businesses to change by themselves without support.”

“We have written to the state government about the necessity to bring in this ban. But we haven’t heard anything back yet. It seems like the environment is not a priority at the moment,”

Perak Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (PEKA) chairperson Sajeeda Muhamad agreed that nothing can be done without political will from the new administration.

“The new government must do something. If other states like Penang can carry out bans, why can’t Perak?

“They can start with Ipoh first, and then gradually expand it throughout the state. But our leaders must take the lead and show a good example.

“Individually, it can be as simple as bringing their own containers... maybe stop buying plastic mineral bottles.”

Perak asks for more time to implement plastic ban - The Star Metro Perak

14 July 2018 By Silvia Looi

The Perak state government says it needs time to ban the use of plastic bags and polystyrene containers in the state. — Picture by Choo Choy May

IPOH, July 14 — The Perak state government remains committed to ban the use of plastic bags and polystyrene containers in the state but needs more time to do so.

In reiterating its stand on the matter, state Education, Science, Environment, Green Technology and Information Committee chairman Abdul Aziz Bari said the state needs time to engage with stakeholders before going ahead with the move.

“Yes, we want to be environmentally friendly but the plastic industry is an economic activity. We cannot do away with it just like that,” he told Malay Mail.

Aware that environmental groups want the state to revive a proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers made by the previous Barisan Nasional administration, Aziz said the matter had yet to be discussed at the state executive council level.

“Give us time as the matter does not involve my portfolio alone but other portfolios too such as Local Government and Investment,” he said, referring to his fellow exco members Paul Yong Choo Kiong and Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin respectively.

“My power is confined to environmental issues. The issue of hawkers using plastic bags and polystyrene containers comes under the local government. And to encourage plastic manufacturers to change to environmentally-friendly products involves investments,” he said.

Malay Mail had previously reported that environmental groups in Perak want the state to revive a proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers and make sure it is carried out this time.

The groups said it is time for the state government to cut down on the use of plastic in the state after a similar plan by its predecessor failed to take off.

They had stressed the present government must not drag its feet over the proposal or other policies to protect the environment.

Abdul Aziz questioned if the society is ready for the ban.

“To implement [the ban], we must educate the people. Can the rural folks do away with not using plastic bags and polystyrene containers?” he asked.

“The society is so used to using plastic bags and polystyrene. All this needs time for adjustment,” he said, adding that a systematic way of doing away with plastic bags and polystyrene containers was needed.

In 2016, the previous BN administration took a bold step by announcing the first phase of a state-wide ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers.

At the time, it said the move would be implemented in stages — from state government offices in June 2016 to a full public enforcement a year later.

However, the state temporarily called off the ban, saying it would be rescheduled after further studies were carried out.

High Technology Recycling effort undertaken by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang finally recognised and rewarded

8 July 2018

The recycling project launched in Jelapang Tambahan has finally been recognised. The project mooted by Ipoh City Watch in collaboration with Perak SWCorp and managed by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang since April 2015 under the social business concept, has won the Premier Award under the Best Innovative Project category.

RT Jelapang Chairman, Mr. S. Thinakaran, received the certificate and cash prize award of RM500 from Perak State Chairman for Civil Society, YB Sivanesan witnessed by Perak State Director, Department of Unity and National Integration, Tuan Haji Hadi Awang at a ceremony held at Arena Square, Batu Gajah.

Before the recycling project started in Jelapang Tambahan, there were 12 illegal dumpsites found within the community of about 200 houses. The place was also recorded among the highest dengue cases in Perak.

A recycling system was set up at Jelapang Tambahan where RT Jelapang helped to manage the community to bring their recyclables twice a month. Several gotong royong and house to house campaign were also organised to educate the community. The contributors were paid cash based on the type and weight of the recyclables. This system was carried out until December 2016.

When Ipoh City Watch set up Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Berhad (KOHIJAU) and collaborates with ICycle Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a new recycling system was launched where contributors used the recycling reward point system where contributors can drop their recyclables at any recycling bins. The recyclables were placed in a biodegradable plastic bags with barcode membership sticker pasted. The recyclables will be collected from the bin every week and sent to a factory where they are sorted and weighed and recycling points were allocated. The recycling points accumulated can then be redeemed with cash or coupons as when required.

The KOHIJAU-ICYCLE system was then launched in Jelapang in January 2017 which enable RT Jelapang to go high-tech to help reduce garbage from going to landfill and in the process contribute some income to RT Jelapang to finance its community programmes.

To date, 8,900 kg of recyclables have been collected from Jelapang Tambahan and a total of RM3,850 has been paid out to the residents. The recycling rate in this village is 17.5% compared to the average national recycling rate of 10%. The 12 illegal dumpsites have disappeared and residents are more aware of keeping the environment clean. The dengue cases has also dropped.

Thus RT Jelapang has successfully helped salvage 8,900kg of garbage from going to the landfills or illegal dumpsites. This is a saving of about RM2,700 to the state government where the government pay an average of 30 sen per kg to contractors.

This is a social business embarked by RT Jelapang to self-finance its activities and help contribute towards eradicating poverty and climate change as stipulated under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

According to Ipoh City Watch President cum KOHIJAU Chairman, Associate Prof. Dr. Richard Ng, Jelapang Tambahan has set up a good example for other Rukun Tetangga in the state to emulate. Garbage is generated by every members of the community and it is good that RT do something to help educate the community.

For KOHIJAU, this is the 4^th achievements within 2 years. Last year KOHIJAU helped the Slim Village to emerge 3^rd place in the national Premier Village award for cleanliness. KOHIJAU too play a small part in helping SMK Raja Perempuan Ipoh emerged national champion in the Toyota Eco environment project. In March 2018, KOHIJAU helped the Selama Police District to emerge as national champion in innovation for using the KOHIJAU-ICYCLE system. The award received by RT Jelapang is the 4^th one where KOHIJAU has played a key role.

KOHIJAU is now embarking on a new project with RT Jelapang by developing a community fish and agro farming by converting organic waste to fish food and fertilizer. This project if successful can help RT Jelapang reduce 40% of the waste and help generate a good income for the community. It also helps to create jobs and supplement income.

Review of Plastic Ban in Perak and Emulate Japanese Culture during SUKMA and all government functions

6 July 2018 by Dr. Richard Ng

The new Pakatan Harapan government has been urged to review on the previous BN government’s policy of banning plastics as announced in April 2016 which is supposed to be enforced effective 1 June 2017.

The U-Turn was announced by the then Perak MB, Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir about a month before the enforcement of the policy giving excuses that a thorough study was required before enforcing the ban. According to him, we cannot tackle the problems of plastic and polystyrene usage without providing the correct alternative, as well as creating an environment that leads towards the ban.

In April 2016, he announced that the total ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers would be enforced in stages, starting with state government buildings, cafeterias, and functions to start using biodegradable containers every Friday from June last year. In the second stage, the ban was extended from weekly to daily. It was then extended to cover all municipal councils in the state. The final stage was the ban on polystyrene and plastic bags throughout the state.

If the government is serious about reducing carbon footprint and addressing climate change as one of the goals under the United Nation on Sustainable Development Goals, then the review is imminent. There are two ways to do it: through enforcement and legislation and education.

In Perak with a population of 2.8 million now, a total of 200,000 tonnes of garbage is generated each year and of this total about 30% or 65,000 tonnes made up various plastics and polystyrene. Also there are over 2,000 illegal dumpsites now. As plastics takes years to decompose, the landfills and illegal dumpsites will keep piling up.

We need not to wait for further studies as states such as Penang, Selangor, Melaka and Johor have implemented successfully. The people in these states have adapted to it and are ever willing to cooperate. However, it must start from the government, the corporate sectors, the traders and plastic manufacturers.

We still noticed during Hari Raya Open House hosted by government agencies continued to use disposable polystyrene plastics, plastic spoons and forks as well as plastic straws. The government must stop using single use plastic even though it is a cheaper option to help reduce plastic pollution which is choking our ocean.

Traders must be forced to use plastic containers which can be recycled instead of polystyrene box even though it cost more and not a good alternative.

The better option is to educate the public to bring their own tiffin carrier and mugs when purchasing foods and drinks.

The government must also engage environment NGOs such as KOHIJAU and Ipoh City Watch which have been actively involved in educating the public especially students to practice 3R and use recyclable shopping bags. The community such as senior citizens and single mothers can be taught on upcycling skills to salvage plastics and turn it into bags and other products which can be reuse as decorations, flower pots, stationery holders or even handicrafts.

The enforcement on the banning of plastics can be carried out by business licensing authority especially the local councils. Traders who ignore this ruling will have their business license revoked.

During the recent FIFA world cup in Russia involving Japan, the Japanese fans, players and officers set good examples to the world by picking up thrash left in the stadium and even cleaned up their rooms before they leave. This a habit the Japanese government has cultivated in young Japanese students.

Perak will soon host the 19^th SUKMA Games from 14 to 22 September 2018. This is the best opportunity for Perakians to showcase our good habit by emulating the Japanese to clean up the venue after every event held.

The Perak Chairman for Youth and Sports should look into engaging NGOs and Volunteers to help. Thousands of people will be in Perak during this game and what better way to show that we are not just only a good host but a responsible host. Already Perak is famed for its good food. We must not just display the number medals we receive but also to showcase that we are one of the cleanest if not the cleanest state in Malaysia.

So start to form our volunteer brigade and NGOs, empower them and make our state proud and great again.

Solving the plastic crisis starts with Asia - Bloomberg

26 June 2018 - Adam Minter

Since Jan 1, when China stopped accepting the rich world’s recyclable plastic waste, it’s gotten a tonne of criticism for worsening the already deep crisis of ocean plastic pollution. But China isn’t the only culprit here. This is a crisis made — and growing worse — throughout developing Asia.

Just eight countries in the region are responsible for about 63 per cent of total plastic waste flowing into the oceans. Little of that junk has been exported by rich economies. Instead, it’s almost solely generated by Asia’s newly minted consumer classes, the vast majority of whom lack access to garbage collection, modern landfills and incineration. Any progress in reducing ocean plastic will have to start with them.

A boom in garbage is almost always the result of two related phenomena: Urbanisation and income growth. Rural dwellers moving to the city shift from buying unpackaged goods to buying stuff (especially food) wrapped in plastic. As their incomes rise, their purchases increase. That growth in consumption is almost never matched by expanded garbage collection and disposal. In typical low-income countries, less than half of all garbage is collected formally, and what little is picked up tends to end up in unregulated open dumps. In 2015, scientists estimated that as much as 88 per cent of the waste generated in Vietnam is either littered or tossed into uncontained dumps. In China, the rate is about 77 per cent. By comparison, the US rate is 2 per cent.

Every big city in developing Asia faces this problem. Jakarta’s waterways are choked with plastic trash. In Kuala Lumpur, instances of open dumping line the high-speed train route to the airport. On the outskirts of any Chinese city, loose plastic bags and instant-noodle cups litter every road’s shoulder. Much of this junk ends up in waterways — and, eventually, the ocean. One study found that eight of the 10 rivers conveying the most plastic waste into the oceans are in Asia. China’s Yangtze alone delivers 1.5 million metric tonnes of plastic to the Yellow Sea each year.

Solutions to all this have proved chronically elusive. China has prohibited retailers from providing free plastic bags for a decade, to almost no effect. In Indonesia, longstanding efforts to tax plastic bottles and containers have run into the reality that few locals have access to piped or uncontaminated water. Although recycling is common in Asia, plastic presents an often insurmountable challenge: Technical and environmental factors render much of it unrecyclable, especially in developing regions. In fact, only about 9 per cent of plastics are recycled globally.

Yet there’s another, far more promising option: Improve regular old trash collection. A recent study by the Ocean Conservancy and the McKinsey Centre for Business and Environment found that boosting trash collection rates to 80 per cent in just five Asian countries — China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam — could reduce ocean plastic waste by a whopping 23 per cent over a decade. No other solution can promise such an immediate or lasting impact.

Pulling it off won’t be easy. Garbage collection and disposal is often the most expensive line-item on city budgets in the developing world, and achieving the study’s goal would require US$4 billion to US$5 billion (RM16 to RM20 billion) per year. But that’s not impossible: In the UK, aid organisations are pushing the government to spend 3 per cent of its annual foreign aid on waste collection and disposal in the developing world (currently, it spends 0.3 per cent). If that goal were adopted by other rich countries, it could be a game-changer for ocean plastics.

The private sector could also help. An American advocacy group called Closed Loop Ocean is raising US$150 million from global corporations — including 3M Co, Coca-Cola Co, and Procter & Gamble Co — to invest in scalable waste collection and disposal businesses in India and Indonesia. Petrochemical and plastics companies should be next to join.

All this is just a start, of course. Developing Asia will eventually need many more modern landfills, incinerators and self-funding recycling programmes. But for now, one reform could have a bigger global impact than just about any other: Start picking up the trash. — Bloomberg Opinion