Plastic bag charge to apply to all businesses from 2022

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (left) at the ‘Love for Environment’ campaign in Subang Jaya today. (Bernama pic)

SUBANG JAYA: The 20 sen plastic bag charge, which currently applies to most permanent business premises, will be extended to all types of business premises from 2022.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the charge will apply to all permanent business premises by the end of 2021, and extended to all types of business premises from
2022.

She said this was among the key initiatives under the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030, which includes a no-straw-by-default practice that encourages users to drink directly from a cup or a glass.

“The imposition of the plastic bag charge and the no-straw-by-default practice are part of the government’s initiatives to prevent consumers from using single-use plastics.

“At the same time, consumers are encouraged to make more eco-friendly decisions by bringing reusable bags when shopping, and drinking without using a straw,” she said when launching a “Love for Environment” campaign here today.

Wan Azizah commended the effort by the Penang government to use revenue from the plastic bag charge to conserve the environment, saying it should be emulated by other states.

The government had introduced No Plastic Bag Day on every Saturday since Jan 1, 2011.

Several states, such as Selangor, Penang, Melaka, Perlis, Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan and Sarawak have adopted this initiative.

The Federal Territories, Kedah, Penang and Selangor have also implemented the Straws on Request campaign, and from Jan 1 next year, plastic straws will also be banned in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. - FMT