An environmental group has urged the Selangor government to consider imposing higher charges on single-use plastic bags, saying the 20 sen levy in place over the past few years has failed to change consumer behaviour.
Peka said a more practical measure would be a gradual, comprehensive ban on single-use plastic bags, starting with large supermarkets; incentives for industries to produce eco-friendly alternatives such as paper bags, bioplastics or reusable bag systems; and strict enforcement.
“Small charges only make consumers feel they are ‘buying the right’ to continue using plastic, rather than educating them to stop,” Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan told FMT.
“If all states adopt such minimal measures, Malaysia will not achieve its target of eliminating single-use plastics by 2030. It would be another environmental campaign that…