GEORGE TOWN: Although enforcement of the “No Plastic Bag” campaign began on Sept 1, educating the public on the use of reusable bags will continue, says Penang Green Council (PGC).

PGC general manager Josephine Tan said while enforcement will come under the local authority, the council wants to ensure the people fully understand the campaign.

“We have been actively distributing reusable bags.

“We need to educate consu­mers to bring their own bags or containers while grocery shopping or for takeaways.

“If everyone adopts this habit, plastic bag usage will gradually reduce.”

Penang introduced the campaign on March 1, compelling consumers to use only reusable bags for their purchases.

The “No Plastic Bag 2.0” campaign involves supermarkets, department and conve­nience stores, hypermarkets, fast food restaurants, retail chains and pharmacies, as well as other business premises.

To encourage the adoption of this eco-friendly habit, the public was given a six-month grace ­period ending Aug 31.

Around 100,000 reusable bags were distributed in the first three months of the campaign.

For now, the campaign does not apply to hawkers, wet market traders or stand-alone businesses.

Checks at several departmental stores showed that many shoppers were bringing their own bags.

Fatin Nasir Khan, 28, brought along 10 reusable bags while shopping at a hypermarket in Bayan Baru yesterday.

“I am shopping for three people – my mother, sister and myself – and need extra bags.

“It’s easier to bring reusable bags, which has been a habit of ours for some time.”

Fatin added that the campaign was a good move as it helps to educate the people to do their part in preserving the environment.

Penang was the first state to introduce a No Plastic Bag campaign in 2009, requiring busines­ses to stop providing free plastic bags to customers.

Penang environment committee chairman Datuk S. Sundarajoo said the state is formulating a comprehensive framework to gradually phase out single-use plastics.