Penangites will have to do without plastic bags beginning January

From Jan 1, 2011 all hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, pharmacies, fast food restaurants, nasi kandar restaurants and convenience stores (including at petrol stations) will be asked to stop providing plastic shopping bags to customers, the Penang State Assembly was told today.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the step was being taken to make Penang the first "green" state in the country.

"Feedback obtained from 73 players in the retail industry who took part in the state's "no plastic bags" campaign from July 1 2009 till Oct 26, 2010 showed a savings of 32,508,418 plastic shopping bags," he said when tabling the state's budget for next year.

He added that mini-markets and sole proprietorships would also be asked to enforce the ruling but for three days a week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.-

-------------------------------------------------------------

BERNAMA