The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

I n May 2019, Malaysia received imports of a different kind – cargo containers filled with plastic waste. This compelled the Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), YB Yeo Bee Yin, to issue orders for the incoming refuse to be transported back to their countries of origin, including the UK, US, Japan, China, Spain, Singapore and France. Developed nations have been shipping their plastic waste to other neighbouring countries – Malaysia, for one – following China’s ban on imported waste in 2018 after renouncing its role as a major plastic waste processor. YB Yeo’s stance against the dumping of plastic waste on our shores remains firm. “Malaysia will not be the dumping ground of the world. We will fight back. Even though we are a small country, we cannot be bullied by developed countries. Malaysians have a right to clean air, clean water and a clean environment to live in, just like citizens of developed nations,” she declared at a press conference. Imported waste aside, Malaysia has its own fair share of waste management concerns to grapple with. YB Yeo and her ministry are currently working with corporations, government agencies and non-governmental organizations to enforce tighter regulations on plastic usage as part of the “Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030”. In an effort to reduce plastic usage, consumers will be charged 20 sen for each plastic bag requested effective January 2020. But are consumers aware of the significance behind this measure? Plastic bags are used for an average of 10 to 20 minutes, yet take up to 200 to 450 years to decompose naturally. If left unrecycled, the plastic bags are inevitably relegated to the trash. As the detrimental effects on the natural habitat of wildlife and human health caused by single- use plastics are not immediately apparent, most of us are likely to favour the convenience offered by plastic products at the expense of environmental sustainability. Plastic bags are an easy choice for consumers tocarry their groceries in, particularly in supermarkets, where shopping trolleys are often loaded with purchased goods in plastic bags. The Penang Government introduced its own “No Free Plastic Bags” campaign in 2009, charging consumers a nominal fee for plastic bags on a designated day of the week. Similar initiatives have subsequently been adopted by the state governments of Selangor, Putrajaya andMalacca. It is hoped that the implementation of such directives could provide a disincentive to consumers who have been taking advantage of the free supply of plastic bags, besides compelling the public to think twice before reaching out for yet another plastic bag that is most likely to be discarded after a single use. However, the ruling grants exceptions to petty traders and hawkers at open-air markets, potentially dampening its intended impact. The MESTECC’s Roadmap envisions for Malaysia a future free of single-use plastics by 2030 through the gradual implementation of policies that discourage plastic usage, yet plastic bags remain a common sight at wet markets and night markets. Are we prepared to achieve the goal in the 11 years ahead of us? “Do you need a plastic bag?” is fast becoming a familiar query at supermarket checkout counters in several states across the nation that have imposed a nominal fee for plastic bags. But does the levy fulfil its intended purpose of steering consumers towards opting for more environmentally- friendly alternatives? TZU CHI 116 09 Pulling the Plug on Plastics