Malaysia to do away with single-use plastics.
25 October 2018 - There will be no more drinking straws and plastic carrier bags by 2030 under an ambitious plan that will se local councils imposing a " pollution charge " and a " no straw by default " policy.
These measures will be introduced under Phase 1 of the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030 from next year until 2021.
The roadmap will also eventually see the implementation of a circular economy for recycling as well as position Malaysia as a leader in biodergradable technology and industry within the region.
During the launch, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the pollution charge would be imposed on plastic carrier bags via the local councils for hypermarkets, big retailers, and chain stores and restaurants.
"Our vision is that by 2030, there will no longer be single-use plastics," she siad, adding that under this roadmap, single -use plastics meant straws and carrier bags.
"And the money cannot be used for other things, except to increase awareness, help it to be green and to give lots and lots of recyclable shopping bags to the public," she siad, stressing that the roadmap wa a " living document " which could be adapted to changes.
On the " no straw by default " policy, Yeo said from next year, customers in eateries would automatically be served drinks with no straws.
Yeo said all the stage governments, including those run by the opposition, had agreed to the roadmap.
Under Phase 2 between 2022 and 2025, the ministry hoped to have widespread use of biodegradable bags as well as talks with other coubtries in the region on marine debris, she said.
By the end of this year, Yeo said Sirim would also draw up standards on what compries biodegradable plastic.
The launch was attended by Selangor Princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is an advocate againts the use of straws, industry players and various state excos.
Later during the dialogue, Yeo said the goverment had frozen the issuance of license to set up plastic watse recycling factories in Malaysia and banned the import of such materials.
A joint ministerial committee to tackle plastic watse, she said, had been set up comprising represetatives from her ministry and other agencies, adding that this would be meeting on Oct 26.
Earlier, during the launch of the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia, Yeo said a Building Energy Intensity Labellingfor the local building sector would also be introduced this Saturday.
The government, she said, would also be aggresively stepping up the adoption of energy performance contracting for some 5,000 government buildings around the country next year.
" We can save by retrofitting the buildings by making these electricity efficient," she said, adding that this would benefit energy-saving industries
Source: The Star Online
These measures will be introduced under Phase 1 of the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030 from next year until 2021.
The roadmap will also eventually see the implementation of a circular economy for recycling as well as position Malaysia as a leader in biodergradable technology and industry within the region.
During the launch, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the pollution charge would be imposed on plastic carrier bags via the local councils for hypermarkets, big retailers, and chain stores and restaurants.
"Our vision is that by 2030, there will no longer be single-use plastics," she siad, adding that under this roadmap, single -use plastics meant straws and carrier bags.
"And the money cannot be used for other things, except to increase awareness, help it to be green and to give lots and lots of recyclable shopping bags to the public," she siad, stressing that the roadmap wa a " living document " which could be adapted to changes.
On the " no straw by default " policy, Yeo said from next year, customers in eateries would automatically be served drinks with no straws.
Yeo said all the stage governments, including those run by the opposition, had agreed to the roadmap.
Under Phase 2 between 2022 and 2025, the ministry hoped to have widespread use of biodegradable bags as well as talks with other coubtries in the region on marine debris, she said.
By the end of this year, Yeo said Sirim would also draw up standards on what compries biodegradable plastic.
The launch was attended by Selangor Princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is an advocate againts the use of straws, industry players and various state excos.
Later during the dialogue, Yeo said the goverment had frozen the issuance of license to set up plastic watse recycling factories in Malaysia and banned the import of such materials.
A joint ministerial committee to tackle plastic watse, she said, had been set up comprising represetatives from her ministry and other agencies, adding that this would be meeting on Oct 26.
Earlier, during the launch of the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia, Yeo said a Building Energy Intensity Labellingfor the local building sector would also be introduced this Saturday.
The government, she said, would also be aggresively stepping up the adoption of energy performance contracting for some 5,000 government buildings around the country next year.
" We can save by retrofitting the buildings by making these electricity efficient," she said, adding that this would benefit energy-saving industries
Source: The Star Online
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