Plastic Bag Ban in Perak Starts June 2017

We are all aware that plastic is the biggest contributor to environmental pollution on our planet. Although numerous awareness campaigns have been conducted by the government to educate us on this since our school days, there are still those who are indifferent and do not care about this issue as the inheritors of life on this blessed earth.

For the information of our loyal orangperak.com readers, Perak will fully ban the use of plastic bags and polystyrene food containers starting in early June 2017. As an early preparatory step to get used to living without plastic every day, we have already trained ourselves by welcoming the 'No Plastic' campaign every Saturday, where a charge of RM0.20 is applied if one still requests a plastic bag. Various positive feedback and some negative comments disagreeing with this have come from the people of Perak themselves. However, we at orangperak.com congratulate those who support this effort, as it will greatly benefit future generations. We should all pledge to change our old habits and continue to live our lives without plastic bags and polystyrene. The following list of plastic bag uses is exempted from the charge:

• Food and plants
• Medicinal products and poisons
• Live fish or other marine life

By not using plastic bags and polystyrene, it is part of the green technology campaign included in the state government's policy. We should all look for other alternatives, including using biodegradable plastics made from materials such as sugarcane bagasse, plant roots, and leaves that decompose quickly. Among the highly encouraged alternatives to replace plastic bags and polystyrene are as follows:

• Reusable and recyclable plastic bags
• Reusable shopping bags (non-plastic)
• Tiffin carriers
• Reusable food containers

For your general knowledge, single-use plastic bags only began to be used in 1970, yet today, they have become a necessity, indirectly causing environmental pollution. Nearly 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. The people of Perak must prove that we prioritize environmental conservation for the community. Therefore, it is our hope at the orangperak.com editorial team that many more will support such campaigns to ensure they run smoothly. It is hoped that you, the citizens of Perak, are ready for this major change. Remember that plastic is difficult to decompose in a short time and is not good for any form of life on our earth. Let us cherish our state, Perak Darul Ridzuan, and our country, Malaysia.