Brace up to pay 20sen for a plastic bag

Two weeks ago, my daughter, Zayye came home and complained that she had to fork out 20sen at IKEA for a plastic bag after paying for a study lamp. Zayye normally says no to plastic bags when she shops for small items and she was not aware that the campaign to use the reusable green bags had started.

Penang has started the "No plastic Bags Day" on Mondays. More than 300 hypermarkets, mini-markets, department stores and other participating shops are charging 20sen for a plastic bag.

Tesco hypermarkets gives 2 extra bonus club points when customers bring their own reuseable shopping bag. Customers with reusable bags are allowed to use the expressed check out lane at Giant Bayan Baru. Boxes were provided for customers who shopped a lot and did not bring their own bags on the day. Customers are encouraged to drop plastic bags to a special bin so that these bags could be reused by other customers.

Other stores have also started the save on plastic bags campaign. Parkson Grand at Gurney Plaza will give one free tote bag for purchases of Rm2oo and above and customers can also buy these bags for RM2 each.

This is what I have been waiting for. Once the big stores start the ball rolling and educate the customers giving them no choice, then only would the campaign be effective. The time will come when everyone will accept that plastic bags are not to be wasted and thrown anywhere they like.
I remember that one of the reasons that the hypermarket Makro failed was because customers did not accept that there were no packaging to their purchases. Maybe the timing for Makro was not right and Makro did not try to educate its customers.

I notice Jusco and Tesco have also started a mild campaign in the Klang Valley. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags on certain days voluntarily, but at present there is no charge for the plastic bags yet.

Only a concerted effort by every hypermarket and supermarket will the campaign work. An irate woman left all her groceries at Tesco Penang, when told that she has to pay 20sen for a plastic bag, reported today's Star. She will soon realise that she would have to toe the line next time when everyone starts bringing their own bags to Tesco or lose out on Tesco's offers.

Meanwhile, customers' education must continue. The media has a lot to do, to contribute to the success of the campaign.

I understand that proceeds from the sales of the plastic bags will go to the "Partners Against Poverty Campaign"

I just hope that the "Say No to Plastic Bags " will become a common feature in the future and not one off campaigns soon to be forgotten.

(Look up for other incentives to go green at the link shown)