By 2030, Yeo Bee Yin Wants Malaysia To Be A Zero Single-Use Plastic Nation

During her town hall session on single-use plastics yesterday, 24 September, Yeo shared that a 'Road map towards zero single-use plastic 2018-2030' will be introduced next month during the International Greentech and Ecoproducts Exhibition Malaysia (IGEM) in Kuala Lumpur.

"Malaysia is the eighth largest producer of plastic waste in the world. Plastic waste is the second biggest type of waste in the country after food," Yeo told attendees of the town hall, reported The Star.

"We need a proper roadmap with clear plans on how we can reduce and even better, eliminate the consumption of single-use plastic by 2030."

"The ministry doesn't want to kill the plastic manufacturers but prepare them to produce more eco-friendly products. The ministry wants to help plastic manufacturers to grow with alternative (products)," Yeo was reported as saying by Bernama.

The roadmap will cover a number of issues, including:
- by default, plastic straws will be given upon request by consumers,
- a policy on the charge for plastic bags at shops and where the money goes to, and
- list suggestions of more eco-friendly products for hydrocarbon-based plastic manufacturers in the country to switch to.

While the term "single-use plastic" generally means disposable plastic that is only used once before being thrown away, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said the majority of the public did not understand what items fall under this category.

According to Free Malaysia Today, WWF-Malaysia marine policy manager Shantini Guna Rajan voiced out that without a distinct definition of the term, items which appeared to be waste could end up in a circular economy instead because people did not know how to categorise them.

Shantini also urged the government to curb the entry of plastic products into the market and to influence future product designs to ensure that new forms of single-use plastics are not introduced.

Plastic straws will join plastics bags and polystyrene food packaging, which were banned in September 2017.

According to The Star, Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Adnan Mohd Ikhsan said that businesses who continue to use plastic straws in 2019 will risk having their business licences terminated.

Following concerns raised by persons with disabilities, he later clarified that business operators who offer plastic straws to customers for medical reasons would not be penalised. The Star also reported that the full enforcement of the ban will only come into effect on 1 January, 2020.

In a statement on its blog, the Malaysian Spinal Cord Injury Advocacy Association said, "Even though there are suggested alternatives to plastic straws like metal straws, composites and the like, there are other side effects like the risks of choking, injury, high costs, cannot be easily positioned, and not safe for hot food or drink."

Here's a breakdown of the various alternatives to plastic straws and why certain persons with disabilities cannot use it: