Ipoh mayor Rumaizi Baharin said the campaign aims to reduce single-use plastics in Ipoh to ensure environmental sustainability.

“The Licensing Department in collaboration with the MBI Environmental Health Department held an engagement session with 120 traders on May 18. From this number, 22 businesses have agreed to become ‘Plastic Bag Free Premises’.

“They include hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, chain stores and pharmacies. The campaign involves a total of 1,378 premises and the collection of plastic bag charges will be conducted through the issuance of additional conditions in the business licence or permit,” he said in a statement.

Rumaizi said the campaign was also implemented to support the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030, which was launched on Oct 17, 2018.

“Premises that provide and charge users 20 sen for a plastic bag will receive a ‘No Free Plastic Bag Day Premises’ certificate, while premises that do not supply plastic bags will receive a ‘Plastic Bag Free Premises’ certificate.

“All participants need to display their certificates at their respective business premises to ensure the campaign’s success,” he said.

He said the collection of the 20 sen charge would be handed over to MBI to be used to implement environmental sustainability programmes in schools as well as in recycling campaigns.