Issues on Plastics and In-action by the Perak State Government

30 January 2019

According a study in 2015, Malaysia is the eighth largest global producer of mismanaged plastic waste, generating 4,505,717 kg of plastic waste a day. Plastic waste is the second biggest type of waste in the country after food. The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association said in April that every Malaysian throws away 300 plastic bags a year on average.

Each year between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used globally, according to industry estimates, with fewer than 10 per cent recycled. Many end up in the world's oceans or dumped in landfill. More than 8 million tonnes of plastics enter the ocean each year, and marine experts fear there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, measured by weight. Plastic degrades over time into tiny particles which are ingested by marine life, harming the food chain and environment.

The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change have mooted the Roadmap to Zero Single-Use Plastic 2018-2030 to lay plans on how it can be reduced and even better, eliminate the consumption of single-use plastic by 2030.

In Perak, the state government took a bold step by announcing the first phase of a state-wide ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers effective 1^st of June 2016. 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, a year later the state called off the ban, saying it would be rescheduled after further studies were carried out.

When the new Pakatan Government took over Perak on May 9, 2018, many NGOs including Ipoh City Watch have called for the banned to be enforced again but the new Perak State Exco said they will have to study on the impact especially to plastic manufacturers.

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.

There is no need to have further studies when single use plastics has been banned in Selangor, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Johor without much problem. The present government must not drag its feet about the proposal and other policies to save the environment.

There were many options open to the authorities, but needs a strong political will to implement it. Traders should be forced to use biodegradable or 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 will have their business license 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. They should start embracing new technologies and turn to other products.

The state government can also start to implement ‘no plastic days’ and enforced it during weekends, where the charges on consumers who insist on using plastic bags could fund non-governmental organisations to help educate the public on environmental initiatives.

For a start, all government functions or meetings should have no plastic bottles on tables at all, no straws, and no plastic wrapping on food. The government must also step up effort to organize campaign by collaborating with environmental NGOs such as the “Best of Best” and “Best in Climate Change” 2018  award winner KOHIJAU, which have been promoting the Trash2Cash sustainable recycling system where members can now segregate their recyclables and drop them at selected collection centres and get paid in cash as a reward.

In Kuala Lumpur, the ban on the use of plastic straws has taken effect from 1^st January 2019.

During the recent Executive Talk in Ipoh, the Perak Chief Minister in his 2019 new year address has reminded all government agencies to serve the people especially in fulfilling their GE14 election manifestos, one of which is the green initiatives which has yet to see any impact.

Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister has raised her concern about environment especially plastic solutions and want more effort to be done to promote a recycling culture. So here in Perak, KOHIJAU and some other NGOs is hoping the state government to be proactive and be serious in fighting plastic pollutions