Shoppers in Selangor paid RM6.97 million in plastic bag charges in 2025, down from RM13.35 million in 2023. State Public Health and Environment Exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the drop of almost half reflects a change in how people shop, with more people bringing their own reusable bags to the counter. 

How 20 Sen A Bag Adds Up

Every plastic bag you ask for at the counter in Selangor costs 20 sen. Each 20 sen represents one bag sold.

Working backwards, the RM13.35 million collected in 2023 came from about 66.8 million bags. The RM6.97 million collected in 2025 came from about 34.9 million bags. Shoppers in Selangor bought roughly 32 million fewer plastic bags in 2025 than they did two years earlier.

Where Your 20 Sen Goes

The 20 sen charge started in Selangor in 2017, when hypermarkets and supermarkets were told to charge for bags at the counter. Businesses kept the money at first. From 2020, the state began collecting it through local councils and channelling it into a fund for environmental programmes.

The state has used the money for things like the annual Environment Carnival, solar lighting installations, tree-planting for schools, and community garden projects. 

Not Every Bag Is Counted

Jamaliah was clear that no specific study has measured how much plastic bag use has dropped overall in Selangor. The state is using the collection trend as an indicator of changing behaviour, not as a full measurement. 

The collection only counts bags sold at premises that charge and remit the 20 sen, mainly supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies. Bags from pasar malam stalls, wet market traders, and privately-owned kedai runcit are not counted at all. So what the state has counted is paid plastic bags at large retailers, which leaves open the question of whether shoppers switched to reusable bags or simply picked up free ones elsewhere. 

What This Changes For Your Weekly Shop

The charge may go up. Jamaliah said in 2024 that the state government was collecting public feedback on raising it above 20 sen. At some supermarkets, forgetting your bag already costs more than 20 sen. Several have stopped stocking plastic bags, so the only option at the counter is a reusable one, which might set you back more than RM10 if you buy seasonal and limited edition designs. 

So before your next grocery run, check if you have at least one or two shopping bags on hand. Keep one in your handbag and a few in your car boot, and you should be good to go. Happy shopping! 

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