Nilai, Seremban to ban use of polystyrene by 2020

NILAI, July 11  (Bernama)  -- The use of polystyrene food containers will be banned in Nilai and Seremban by 2020 in line with environmental sustainability efforts, said Nilai Municipal Council president Datuk Zazali Salehudin.

He said all the food operators concerned will be given time until the end of this year to get rid of their stock before the ban comes into effect on Jan 1, next year.

“We are in the process of announcing to all traders and food handlers on the campaign to ban polystyrene containers. We did not implement (the ban) this year because we want to educate first before implementing it next year.

“This campaign was the idea of Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun) to make the state free from polystyrene-based food and beverage containers,” he told Bernama after launching the Food Safety Seminar and Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 for Food Premises Operators here today.

Zazali, who is also the Seremban Municipal Council President, said the ban on polystyrene was made after taking into consideration the safer and environment-friendly replacement for polystyrene foam.

 “As an alternative choice to replace polystyrene disposables,  the best replacement would be those made from biodegradable material or paper that can be washed and used repeatedly,” he said.

He added traders who violated the ban on the use of polystyrene would face a compound of up to RM250, a notice on breaching licencing terms, and their goods seized.

-- BERNAMA