PETALING JAYA – With seven years to the deadline to ban single-use plastics, environmental and consumer groups say it will be an uphill battle for Malaysia to meet the target.

Malaysia set an ambitious road map in 2018 to eliminate single-use plastics by 2030.

One weakness of the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030 is that it does not outline a uniform approach to address single-use plastics, other than just providing a policy direction to all stakeholders, including state governments, in taking a unified and collective approach to the issue.

Malaysia ranks eighth among the top 10 countries with the most mismanaged plastic waste in the world. Another startling statistic is that of 0.94 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste in the country, 0.14 million tonnes to 0.37 million tonnes may have flowed into the sea. To give a visual example of how much 0.94 million tonnes is, it is equivalent to 1,634 Airbus A380 planes.

The groups say the government has much to do to meet the target for the ban. They cited public apathy, the lack of a uniform policy and lax enforcement as the biggest impediments to phasing out single-use plastics.

Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) honorary secretary S. Mageswari says the target might not be reached.

“Despite there being behavioural changes, with consumers bringing their own grocery bags, containers and even reusable straws, it is not widespread enough,” she said.

“Plastic bags are freely and rampantly distributed in wet markets, sundry shops and pasar malam (night markets). If any ban or restriction is not thorough and all-encompassing, we will still see them being used.”

Despite the “no straw by default” policy introduced in 2019, Ms Mageswari said many food outlets were still providing straws with drinks.

She added that restaurants still provided plastic straws without customers asking for them.

“So, the government and local authorities must get serious with the implementation,” she added.

Ms Mageswari said there was also a need to promote reusable alternatives to single-use plastics.

She said a list of unnecessary single-use plastics should be drawn up, beginning with those containing hazardous substances or additives.

“Measures can then be taken to phase out and eventually ban the items, replacing them with alternatives. Policies should be also set in place to ensure corporations take responsibility for their products and packaging.

“A holistic approach covering all bases and sectors is also necessary to help Malaysia achieve the zero single-use plastics target. We need to identify the sectors using single-use plastics. Action plans must be drawn up to address these issues in tandem with stringent implementation,” she said, adding that SAM was awaiting the midterm review report of the road map due in 2023.

Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia president and CEO Andrew Sebastian said political will is crucial to achieve the target of doing away with single-use plastics.

“It is feasible by 2030, or even sooner. But effort must be made properly in phases, with solutions readily available for us to go without single-use plastics.

“The government and respective agencies at the federal and state levels have to be committed and driven to meet the target. Incentives must also be put in place, as with penalties,” he said.

Mr Sebastian said industries affected by the ban of single-use plastics would have to find a way to adapt and provide eco-friendly alternatives once a solid timeline emerges.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic also led to a rise in the use of single-use plastics worldwide.

“There are many advancements in this field where packaging can be relooked and have end-to-end usage,” he said.

Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kadeer urged the government to ensure that more businesses be included in the list of those that must comply with restrictions on single-use plastics.

“Hypermarkets, supermarkets, department stores, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, petrol station convenience stores, chain stores and pharmacies are businesses that have been listed to comply with the restrictions on single-use plastics, and we find that they are in compliance,” he said.

“As for other businesses, they do not seem to bother and keep giving plastic bags to customers. We have observed markets, hawker stalls and food outlets still distributing free plastic bags. The use of straws is also rampant, even if (a customer) refuses one!”

Mr Mohideen also lamented the low recycling rate in Malaysia, adding that the practice had yet to become a norm.

“Educating the people on the importance of recycling, how one should separate waste and where to drop off recyclables will provide a boost to recycling efforts.

“Schools and resident associations can play an active part in increasing awareness and taking initiative,” he said, adding that CAP had done projects with schools and communities and found them to be effective. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK