The Malacca state government will implement a plastics-free packaging practice in the state effective Sept 1.

State Education, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Green Technology and Innovation Committee chairperson Md Yunos Husin said, via the initiative, traders were only allowed to use biodegradable bags.

“The initiative is for the future of the coming generations because plastics will pollute the enviroment as they are non-biodegradable.

“In this regard, all approvals to use plastic bags at a charge of 20 sen, will no longer be allowed after this,” he told reporters after a Workshop On The Setting Up Of Sustainable Schools in Malacca.

Malacca had implemented Non-Plastic Bag Days on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as a preliminary step for the full implementation of the effort which was earlier planned for next year.

Md Yunos said the Melaka Green Technology Corporation would also meet with traders statewide on providing alternative packagings to consumers.

“The move is among measures by the state government to turn Malacca into a green state by 2020,” he said.

- Bernama