When Kota Kinabalu (KK) City Hall banned single-use plastic bags across 858 business premises on 1 August 2024, it wasn't starting from scratch. The city had been running a no-plastic-bag campaign since September 2023, encouraging major businesses to voluntarily stop providing bags on three days per week. By the time the full ban came into effect, the groundwork had been laid — and the results were measurable.
11,000 tonnes of plastic waste reduced in under a year
KK Mayor Datuk Sabin Samitah announced the outcome plainly: a 30% reduction — approximately 11,000 tonnes — of plastic waste between September 2023 and June 2024. That is a documented, verified result from a city that approached the transition in stages rather than all at once.
What the ban covers
The ban applies to supermarkets including hypermarkets, department stores, chain stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, grocery stores, petrol station convenience stores, bakeries, and clothing stores. Raw material vendors selling fish, meat, and seafood in markets are permitted to continue using plastic for food safety and hygiene purposes — a practical exemption that addressed one of the most common objections to blanket bans.
Interestingly, some vendors at the Menggatal Inanam and Telipok markets voluntarily shifted to biodegradable plastic bags even without being required to — a sign that merchant awareness was rising alongside consumer expectations.
The phased approach that made it work
KK's method — voluntary campaign, then partial restriction, then full ban — follows the same logic that Penang used over 15 years, compressed into a single year. The voluntary phase gave businesses time to source alternatives and train staff. It also built social proof: when large retailers stopped providing bags first, smaller premises felt less alone in making the switch.
Assistant minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir expressed hope the ban would be expanded statewide across Sabah, noting: "There is nothing to lose here and everything to gain."
What KK's results mean for other Malaysian cities
A 30% reduction in plastic waste from a single city-level policy change is not a small number. It demonstrates that well-structured bans — with exemptions for genuine food safety needs and a transition period for businesses — work. For businesses currently relying on conventional plastic bags, KK's experience is both a warning and a roadmap.
