MBSA expands campaign to reduce plastic waste
(From second left) Mohd Azhar and Syahril launching the reusable bag display cabinet at Kompleks PKNS in Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star
Kompleks PKNS latest building to join project to eliminate single-use plastics in Shah Alam
IN line with its zero-waste targets, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has pledged to provide support to organisations or building or premises owners in the city keen to join its 'Program Komuniti Bebas Plastik Sekali Guna'.
The project was initiated by the city council to make Shah Alam free of single-use plastics.
MBSA management deputy secretary Mohd Azhar Mohd Sharif said the project, which started in 2022 with Bangunan Vista Alam in Section 14, has gained strong support from the community.
'After Bangunan Vista Alam, Wisma MBSA joined the project. The Selangor State Development Corporation's (PKNS) Kompleks PKNS was also selected to join last year,' he said during an event at Kompleks PKNS yesterday that was aimed at educating traders and building management about the project.
During the event, they were briefed on the Shah Alam Single-Use Plastic Usage Control Action Plan, an action plan developed by MBSA.
Mohd Azhar said the project was certified by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), one of MBSA's strategic partners.
'MBSA has become the sustainability role model for other local authorities in Malaysia.
'Shah Alam was also selected as the pioneer city to implement the Single-Use Plastic Reduction Programme under the Collaboration Actions for Single-Use Plastic Prevention in South-East Asia.
'It is a collaborative programme with MGTC and GIZ, a German service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education,' he said.
Mohd Azhar said MBSA and PKNS would jointly form a Single-Use Plastic-Free Community Task Force for various purposes including information sharing.
'MBSA also hopes the whole of Selangor will stop the usage and reliance on single-use plastics by 2030 to reduce plastic waste.'
However, Mohd Azhar said single-use plastics would not be banned in the city.
'The project only acts as a medium to encourage the reduction of single-use plastics.
'I urge all traders to encourage their customers to refrain from using single-use plastics.
'This action could change their customers' behaviours,' he said.
Also present was Kompleks PKNS and SACC Mall building manager Syahril Mohd Rashid who hoped the effort would become the benchmark and inspire PKNS and its subsidiaries to reduce single-use plastics and work towards a sustainable future.
During the event, Syahril and Mohd Azhar launched a reusable bag display cabinet in the complex.
It is an initiative by MBSA to encourage the public to contribute unused reusable bags to be used by visitors to the complex.
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