CONSUMERS may soon have to pay 50 sen per plastic bag as part of the Penang government’s drive to promote its plastic waste management policy.

Environment exco Phee Boon Poh said the state administration is planning to increase the charge for each bag requested by shoppers from the current 20 sen.

“We are considering increasing the charge to 50 sen per bag,” he said in his winding-up speech in the state assembly tonight.

Phee said Penang is also mulling increasing the thickness of these plastic bags to 40 micron from the current 15 micron.

Penang’s “No Free Plastic Bag” programme launched in 2009 saw it become the first state to order retailers not to supply plastic bags to shoppers for free, in the state administration’s efforts to reduce the use of such bags and boost cleanliness.

Thanks to the programme, more and more locals are using reusable bags when they shop.

Starting January 1 next year, Penang will implement its “No to Single-Use Plastics” policy in stages. First up is a statewide ban on plastic straws.

Phee said the state, via the Penang Green Council, has been reaching out to the public and restaurateurs to inform them about the ban on single-use plastics, particularly straws.

“This policy is in line with the national policy to eradicate the use of single-use plastics under the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030.”

He added that the state is looking at carrying out a comprehensive study on building a “waste-to-energy” plant, as suggested by Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng.

“The federal government encourages all local councils to use thermal treatment to generate energy.

“But Penang has limited land to build a thermal treatment plant. So, for now, we are looking at conducting a comprehensive study.” – November 15, 2018.