KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) have no plans to ban the use of styrofoam containers for the time being.
Mayor Datuk James Chan said MBKS would only ban the containers if there were a directive from the Ministry of Health.
Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai said DBKU had been “thinking about it”, and was still weighing its advantages and disadvantages as it wanted to stay business friendly.
Chan said yesterday the council had no power to rule styrofoam containers as unsafe to store food, and prohibit food operators from using them.
“Before MBKS can ban the use of styrofoam containers, we have to discuss with food operators and get feedback from consumers. We have to be realistic in implementing policies,” he said.
However, he said MBKS encouraged people to use their own food containers rather than those made of styrofoam.
“If a directive comes in, we will enforce it. When there is none, we do not have a ban, but we discourage its use,” he said in an interview in the presence of his officers and committee members of Stutong Community Market in his office.
He was asked whether MBKS would follow the footsteps of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) in banning styrofoam containers at all eating outlets.
Last Friday, SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng said all eateries, including school canteens, industrial canteens, coffeeshops, restaurants and hawkers at food fairs, would be prohibited from using styrofoam containers from next year.
Being the first local authority to do so, he said those caught flouting the rule would be penalised.
“We will check all eateries starting Jan 1 next year. From now until Jan 1, we will carry out campaigns to promote the ruling.
“We have printed pamphlets in three languages, including posters, which will be given out to all those concerned.”
Ngieng said SMC would include a new condition in the trading licence of food operators to restrict them from using styrofoam containers.
Wahap said everyone should be involved if there were a campaign to ban these containers in order to protect the environment.
“This is also in line with our CBS (clean, beautiful and safe) Enhancement Plan (2013-2017), where banning styrofoam containers is for the safety of all.
“In the meantime, we also consider the impact on food operators. We are equally concerned about what they are going to use to pack their food if we ban styrofoam containers,” he said when contacted.
Wahap disclosed DBKU would hold dialogues with food operators to gather inputs.
“We want public engagement, so we will hear what they have to say about restricting the use of styrofoam containers. Many people are aware plastic bags and styrofoam containers are not biodegradable, and they take years to decompose.
“Although they know the fact, some of them are not into reducing its use.”
He said DBKU would find out where food operators got the supply of styrofoam containers, and suggested businessmen use boxes made of paper.
Citing an example, he said paper boxes adopted by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets should be emulated by food operators.
“If our food operators buy styrofoam containers from local factories, what will become of those factories if we ban them? We shall also give time to those factories to engineer their business, such as producing more biodegradable form of containers.
“I am fully supportive of SMC banning styrofoam containers beginning next year, but DBKU takes many factors into consideration.”
Asked whether DBKU would achieve its styrofoam-free target by 2017, Wahap said: “You can say that, as it is in line with our five-year CBS plan.”
Meanwhile, Stutong Community Market secretary William Vong said it would not be a major issue to food operators if the local authorities decided to impose the ban.
He said businessmen could always go for other types of containers, but the alternatives could be more expensive.
“At the end of the day, consumers will be paying for the cost.
“ I know of a kind of container that is made of paper, but it costs three times more than that of styrofoam.”
Vong, who runs a restaurant here, said at least 1,000 styrofoam containers were used every month. Most of the food operators here purchase styrofoam containers from local suppliers.
“Some get them from Peninsular Malaysia, but I believe most got their supply locally. Most of us actually encourage consumers to bring their own containers.”