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KUALA LUMPUR: Metal, bamboo, lemongrass and paper straws were among the types of drinking straws that appeared two years ago when the government implemented its “Tak Nak Straw Plastik” (Say No to Plastic Straws) campaign in an effort to reduce the pollution and preserve the environment. .
It then became a trend when most local food vendors, including fast food restaurants and hotel cafeterias, stopped providing plastic drinking straws in accordance with the government’s call for the campaign to reduce the use of disposable plastic.
The campaign is in line with the “Malaysia Roadmap towards Zero Consumption of Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030”, which was approved by the Cabinet on October 10, 2018 to reduce plastic waste in the country, including the use of plastic drinking straws.
But after two years, the “Say no to plastic straws” campaign seems to have failed. Most restaurants have reverted to plastic drinking straws and only a few provide paper straws to customers.
This senario was recognized by Dr. Mohd Yusoff Ishak, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry and Environment at the Universiti Putra Malaysia, who described that public awareness of the campaign is on the decline and he must receive “a shot in the arm “to ensure that people do not forget the adverse effects of plastics on the environment.
“When the campaign was first launched, many people cooperated, and even restaurant operators only provided drinking straws at the request of customers.
“However, the campaign to reduce the use of disposable plastics seems to have lost its effectiveness or has been forgotten, so it is time for the campaign to be revived again,” he recently told Bernama.
He also suggested that the “Malaysia Roadmap towards Zero Consumption of Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030” be reviewed and continued by placing the responsibility on the relevant agencies rather than the responsible ministry so that its implementation is consistent when changes occur in wallet.
The agencies involved should also have a broader jurisdiction to allow law enforcement to take place from the solid waste generation aspect to the landfill, he said.
At the same time, he said that the plan needs to be reactivated because many expenses have been incurred and efforts have been made, including experts to plan until 2030.
Prior to this, the Federal Territories Ministry also enforced the ban on the use of plastic drinking straws for merchants and restaurant operators, and (the ban) became part of the conditions for a business license effective 1 of January 2019.
Meanwhile, Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia President Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil suggested that the ban on the production and sale of conventional plastic straws apply.
“We have to start from the basics if we want to ban the use of (conventional) plastic straws, not (allow) to sell again, which means that stores that sell plastics cannot sell straws.
“The campaign to ban the use of plastic straws, which was once implemented, could be considered unsuccessful. If we look now, more than 70 percent of canteens and restaurants still use straws made from conventional plastic, ”he said.
Shariffa Sabrina said that traders should not be profit-oriented, but should be in the nature of responsibility to play a role in preserving the environment.
Taking the example of the new routine procedures practiced during the current Covid-19 pandemic, Shariffa Sabrina said the same could be done with the “Say no to plastic straws” campaign if the government continues the campaign and enforces it.
“If the government has been successful in telling people to wear face masks through campaigning and law enforcement, what’s wrong with the government doing the same for this campaign?” He said.
Meanwhile, some members of the public want the “Say No to Plastic Straws” campaign to resume and customers not have the option of ordering drinking straws when ordering drinks.
Ahmad Aiman Muhammad Fadhil, 32, said restaurants should provide cups with appropriate designs to make it easier for customers to drink, especially to go.
“When there is no other option, regular customers can enjoy drinks without straws, just like at home. For those who don’t trust cleanliness and still want straws, they should bring their own straws, ”he said.
Eric Ong, 21, on the other hand, thinks that carrying a reusable drinking straw, like a metal one, should be the new normal in society.
“Now, there are many compact, easy-to-carry drinking straws for sale. Our society is easily influenced by the things that are spread on social media, especially among young people. If the campaign intensifies, I am confident that it will be the trend, “he added. –Called
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