Penang Govt extends ‘no plastic bag day’

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Penang is positioning itself as a “green state” by extending its “no plastic bag day” to all retail stores for Mondays beginning next Jan 1 while other businesses which had done so will now implement it three days a week.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said those doing it for three days are hypermarkets, supermarkets, professional outlets/firms and franchise stores.

"This move is in line with the state’s efforts to reshape Penang as the first 'green' state in Malaysia," he said in a statement today.

Lim (picture) launched the “No Plastic Mondays” initiative in July 2009 and data provided by 45 supermarkets and hypermarkets indicate the public had reduced an estimated one million plastic bags in just four months.

He disclosed that the state had also collected RM21,403 for the Partners Against Poverty Fund from the 20-sen levy imposed on consumers who insist on plastic bags on Monday.

He said the programme has received tremendous support from the public, while other states have started to emulate Penang.

He added the state decided to extend the programme next year after discussions with non-governmental organisations, the public and plastics manufacturers.

The no plastic bags days for hypermarkets, supermarkets and franchise stores will be on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lim said local government bylaws allow local councils to impose specific conditions for the renewal of new licences and the “no plastic bags” programme is now a condition which must be complied with.

The programme is imposed only on Monday’s for mini markets and single outlets at shopping malls, to give more time for small businesses to adapt to the initiative, he said.

"In order to reduce the consumption of plastic bags, the public have now started to bring their own reusable bags,” he said - Agencies.

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