THE Ipoh City Council (MBI) will implement the “No Plastic Bag” campaign, in which 20 sen will be charged for the use of a plastic bag on Saturdays. The campaign begins on June 1.

Ipoh mayor Rumaizi Baharin said the campaign is aimed at reducing single-use plastics in the city to ensure environmental sustainability.

“The Licensing Department,in collaboration with the MBI Environmental Health Department, held an engagement session with 120 traders on May 18. From this number, 22 businesses have registered as ‘Plastic Bag Free Premises’,” he said in a statement today.

“They include hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, chain stores and pharmacies.

“The campaign involves 1,378 outlets and the collection of plastic bag charges will be conducted through the issuance of additional conditions in the business licence or permit.”

He said the campaign is also implemented to support the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030, which was launched on October 17, 2018.

“Premises that provide and charge users 20 sen for a plastic bag will receive a ‘No Free Plastic Bag Day Premises’ certificate while those that do not supply plastic bags will receive a ‘Plastic Bag Free Premises’ certificate,” he said.

“All participants need to display their certificates at their respective premises to ensure the campaign’s success.”

Rumaizi said the collection of the 20 sen charge would be handed over to MBI to be used to implement environmental sustainability programmes in schools and in recycling campaigns. – Bernama, May 28, 2023.