Renewed push for plastic-free sips

The Star

6 hours ago

JUST before the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an effort to ban single-use plastic straws in the Klang Valley and other parts of the country, including Penang.
Theng says the initial ban was not well thought out. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) imposed an outright ban in 2020.
Licensed operators who continue to use plastic straws risk being fined or having their licences revoked.
However, all the hype died out soon after the pandemic, said environment and waste management specialist Dr Theng Lee Chong.
'It was not a well-thought-out plan,' he said, pointing out that plastic straws were now available even at cafeterias of most government buildings.
Old habits and cost
Indian Muslim Community Organisation Malaysia president Mohamed Rizwan Abdul Ghafoor Khan said customers still want plastic straws when ordering cold drinks.
'We tried to educate dine-in customers and even those who ordered their drinks to go with plastic straws,' he said.
Some eateries still offer paper straws to customers.
Mohamed Rizwan says customers still want plastic straws with their cold drinks. At the same time, he said, paper straws were not of good quality and were not preferred by customers.
He said suppliers had insisted on only catering to large paper straw orders, which became a problem for smaller eateries.
'Manufacturers want us to order, like 10,000 sticks of paper straws. They treat us like fast food chains and want us to order in bulk.
'We have asked manufacturers to research and develop stronger paper straws but they want us to order 30,000 sticks at a time.
'This would be expensive and pose storage issues,' he said.
Abdul Mukthahir suggests that customers pay for plastic straws. Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran Muslim Malaysia (Presma) vice- president Abdul Mukthahir Ibrahim also cited the lack of paper straw supplies in the market, adding those available were expensive.
He suggested authorities impose charges for eatery customers asking for plastic straws.
'Just like how people now have to pay for plastic bags, a charge of 10 sen can be imposed if consumers want their plastic straws,' he said.
However, he acknowledged the move would be unpopular at first.
'Customers are always reluctant to change and will resist in the initial stages, just like during the early days of the smoking ban at restaurants,' he said.
Safety in doubt
Theng questioned the quality and safety standards of the paper straws available in the market.
'Who is responsible for inspecting the quality of paper used, the dye on the straws, the bleaching process, and even the glue used to make them?
'Some of these straws are very cheap and can be sourced from other countries, but who is monitoring this?' asked Theng.
He said the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the Department of Environment and Malaysian Science, Technology Information Centre should work together to tackle the issue.
Metal straws are alternatives that customers can bring along when dining out. — Filepic and courtesy of Sahabat Alam Malaysia
'There should be a new framework to ensure that whatever product is in the market undergoes safety test, including paper straws,' he said.
'When no authorities control these items, profit becomes the sole aim of traders, and they disregard safety standards.'
Regulation and disposal
Theng said in countries such as Japan, the producer would pay authorities for the end-of-life handling of the product they create.
'For example, there must be a plan for all the straws that are discarded after a single use, and the cost should be paid to the authorities by the manufacturer as part of a waste management fee,' he said.
Weng says studies have found microplastics in human lungs, livers, and brains. Greenpeace Malaysia zero-waste campaigner Dunxin Weng said the real crisis went far beyond straws to include all disposable plastic packaging used in daily life.
The issue of microplastics was particularly concerning, she said.
'When plastic items degrade, they create microplastics. Studies have found microplastics in human lungs, livers, and brains, with emerging research suggesting potential impacts on hormone function, reproductive health, and the immune system.
'The toxic chemicals used to make plastics pose threats such as developmental issues, cancer risks, and endocrine disruption.
'Globally, less than 9% of all plastic waste has ever been recycled, despite decades of recycling awareness and efforts. Most plastic ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment.
'Many plastics exported for recycling are actually dumped or burned in countries with less environmental oversight,' she said.
Culture and mindset
Weng said the public still struggled to overcome the culture of convenience, especially practices such as tapau (takeaway), where food is purchased and taken away in plastic containers.
'This culture is deeply ingrained in many and is second nature,' she said.
In addition, there is a widespread perception that using reusables is inconvenient or more expensive, making it even harder to shift everyday habits.
Beach clean-up at Pantai Robina, Butterworth, Penang.
'Plastic production is soaring, yet there is no clear commitment or plan to address this.
'Eliminating single-use plastics will require strong, innovative commitment and action from businesses and relevant authorities, with strong implementation and enforcement,' said Weng.
Any legislative ban on single- use plastics and straws should be supported by suitable substitutes, she said.
'We must also avoid false solutions like relying on paper or biodegradable items, and instead facilitate a culture of reuse and repair,' she said.
'There is still a need to raise awareness and shift mindsets away from discarding plastic items after single use.
'People should understand how plastics are made and the greenhouse gases released at every stage of the plastic lifecycle.'
Students separating straws collected at the beach clean-up in Pantai Bersih, Butterworth.
Meanwhile Sahabat Alam Malaysia honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam also suggested that reusable straws be promoted.
'Before Covid-19, many people were using reusable straws, but that trend faded. It should be repopularised,' she said.
No push factor
Lee says there is no push factor for manufacturers to switch. De Cans Cans Services Sdn Bhd key account manager Caden Lee said the company manufactured high-quality paper straws and supplied them to multinational beverage companies.
'Several large and multinational companies producing beverages have long switched from plastic straws to paper straws for their export products, except here.
'This shift from plastic to paper straws took place about five years ago.
'However, the same companies are not doing the same locally.
'When there is no government demand through legislation, there is no push factor for manufacturers to switch,' said Lee.
He added that the cost of switching for multinational companies was not exorbitant.
'I think the cost increase would be just 1% to 2%,' he said.
'Authorities could approach these large organisations to make the shift, and the impact would be significant and visible.'
Lee noted that the country's commitment to the National Policy and Action Plan on Marine Litter 2021-2030 and the National Circular Economic Council was another reason to push for a ban on single-use plastic straws.
'Transitioning to paper straws can reduce plastic waste and position Malaysia as a regional leader in environmental sustainability, following the example of countries in Europe, India, Australia, and the Middle East that have adopted similar measures,' he said.