THE Penang Green Council (PGC) continued its advocacy against single-use plastic bags by distributing reusable recycling bags to state executive councillors (excos) shortly after today’s exco meeting, which was also attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Leading the handover was state Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, accompanied by PGC general manager Josephine Tan and her team. The initiative saw reusable bags distributed to state executive councillors as part of the state’s ongoing green efforts.
Tan said that, as previously announced by Sundarajoo, a total of 100,000 reusable bags will be distributed to the public in phases. The bags will be made available through the service centres of all state assemblymen across Penang, as well as at various public venues.
“Today, the distribution includes the offices of state executive councillors, with each office receiving 200 bags,” Tan said during the ceremony.
She added that the upcoming events will include the handover of 2,000 reusable bags at Chai Leng Park on Aug 2, followed by another 2,000 at the Bayan Baru Market on Aug 3. Additional events will be held at other locations statewide.
According to Tan, the initiative will be rolled out in five phases, 20,000 bags distributed in each phase.
“This initiative is part of the ‘Penang No Plastic Bag Everyday Campaign 2025’, which will be fully implemented in September.
“Once we have finished distributing the bags to all the state assemblymen’s service centres, we will request the assemblymen and MPs to make announcements encouraging the public to collect the reusable bags from their respective constituencies,” she added.
Tan noted that a six-month educational enforcement period, running from March 1 to August 31, 2025, is currently underway. This period is intended to allow both businesses and the public to adapt to the new regulations.
She added that the reusable bags are designed with illustrations of Penang’s iconic landmarks and feature the tagline, ‘Pilihlah Reusable’ (Choose Reusable).
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat