GEORGE TOWN: The Covid-19 pandemic has put a damper on the Penang government’s efforts against the use of single-use plastics.

       The plastics ban, which was supposed to be enforced in July last year, has been deferred for now.

       Penang Green Council (PGC) general manager Josephine Tan said the past two years had been challenging with the surge in the use of single-use plastics during the pandemic.

       “The use of plastic bags and straws has gone up as people have been ordering food online during this period.

       “Some are also worried about drinking directly from cups when they dine in at eateries. This poses a huge challenge in our green cause.

       “We encourage the restaurants and cafes to offer alternatives like paper, bamboo or rice straws with an emphasis on compostable straws,” she said.

       In June last year, a survey by PGC on the impact of the movement control order on waste generation on Penang island found a small increase in both online shopping and food delivery.

       Both these actions contribute to the use of single-use plastics.

       The study revealed that the use of plastic bags, containers, eating utensils and drinking straws increased by at least 30%.

       More than half of the survey respondents reported an increase in waste from their households during the MCO period.

       Tan said compostable straws are preferred over biodegradable straws as these were better for the “end of life cycle” when discarded.

       “Compostable straws will degrade completely while biodegradable ones are mixed with plastic fibres, which will then become micro or nano plastics that are bad for the environment,” she said.

       For now, plastic bags have to be bought at RM1 each from Thursday to Sunday at hypermarkets, supermarkets, department stores, convenient stores, fast food restaurants, petrol stations, chain stores and pharmacies.

       There will be no plastic bags at these premises, even if one is willing to pay, from Monday to Wednesday.

       The policy does not apply to petty hawkers, wet market traders or stand-alone businesses.

       On the no-plastic straws initiative, Tan said all eateries were also not allowed to display the straws or have these easily available to the public.

       She said patrons could request for them should they feel the need.

       Penang environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said they had discussed with cafe and restaurant operators on the need to reduce the usage of plastic bags and not provide plastic straws.

       “We also told members of the public to use their own metal or rice straws. To set an example, we even brought our metal and rice straws along to show people that it can be done if you choose to dine in,” he said.

       Phee said some eateries had opted for biodegradable straws as well as paper bags in their business operations, describing this as a positive sign.

       The Penang government introduced the “No Plastic Bag Day” in stages, starting with the ruling that free plastic bags would not be given on Mondays from July 2009.

       This was extended to three days in a week in 2010, and daily in 2011 for certain businesses.

       In 2023, consumers pay RM1 for each plastic bag. The move approved by the then Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry in 2018.