MIRI: Major hypermarkets, supermarkets and departmental stores here will go green come August in response to the ‘Say No To Plastic’, a campaign of Miri City Council and its Local Agenda 21 (LA21), to reduce the use of plastic bags and other plastic materials.

SAY NO TO PLASTIC: Wee (centre) together with councillors, LA21 officers and business outlet representatives holding the campaign posters.

Starting from next month, the participating outlets namely Boulevard Hypermarket and Departmental Store, Servay Jaya, Parkson Grand, Giant, E-mart, GK, Sing Liang Supermarket, Nam Leong and Ng Siang Hup will reduce the use of plastic bags.

In the initial stage, the campaign would involve plastic bags, the mayor Datuk Wee Han Wen told a press conference after a meeting with representatives from the business outlets, councillors and LA21 officers yesterday.

“The soft launch of the campaign is July 11, while the official launch will be held sometime in August to coincide with the 45th anniversary of Sarawak’s independence in Malaysia. During the soft launch posters will be distributed to the participating outlets,” said Wee.

As a start, the participating outlets will allocate special counters for shoppers who bring along own shopping bags to place their purchase. Some outlets will distribute biodegrable bags and recycleable shopping bags to their shoppers, he said.

“Shoppers are encouraged to bring along their own bags (preferably cloth bag) or containers to place the food bought during the campaign,” Wee said, although admitting that it would be quite difficult for shoppers and business outlets to quickly adjust to the new concept.

“The campaign is a win-win situation for all parties as it will help to reduce the operators’ expenditure in printing and buying of plastic bags, and help to protect the environment,” Wee said.

Wee said the concept had been practised and well received in European countries.

“I understand that Australia has started to implement the concept, and it is never too late for us to start here although the concept has been practised in Peninsular Malaysia for quite sometime.”