Plastic bag sale soars

Mon, Jan 03, 2011

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - City folk do not mind paying for plastic shopping bags despite efforts to reduce their use.

City Hall director-general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said proceeds from the sale of such bags on No Plastic Bags on Mondays had more than doubled since it was introduced six months ago.
He said plastic bag sales had gone up to RM39,000 (S$16,200) in November from RM15,000 (S$6,200) in June last year when the campaign began.

(Plastic bags are sold at 20 sen (S$0.08) each every Monday and the money collected was channelled to the state Environmental Action Centre (EAC) to fund its environmental programmes.)

City Hall had hoped to wean consumers dependency on plastic bags by expanding the No Plastic Day to include Saturdays and Sundays from Jan 1.

"We are extending the campaign to enhance awareness among the public to reduce dependence on plastic bags to carry their groceries," Yeo said.


He said City Hall's expansion of the No Plastic Day campaign was also part of its efforts to make the state capital a litter-free zone while preserving the environment.


Meanwhile, Sabah Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry director Jaafar Walad said Saturdays and Sundays were the right days to expand the campaign as many people did their grocery shopping on those days.


On average each person uses eight plastic bags a week.

-The Star/Asia News Network