Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for an Increase Fee in Biodegradable Plastic Bag Use in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Bibliographic Data

ID16915437
AuthorsMuhamad Faizal Bin Mohamed Noor (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Nitanan Koshy Matthew (0000-0002-2532-9713, Universiti Putra Malaysia, corresponding author), Chong Leong Puan (0000-0002-4708-1915, Universiti Putra Malaysia)
Year2024
Volume14
Issue2
Publication date2024-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/21582440241244668
OpenAlexW4394924932
LanguageEN
References cited32

Excessive and persistent use of plastic bags has caused severe environmental impact in many developing countries and the significance of biodegradable plastic bags as an alternative solution is uncertain. Bandar Baru Bangi, the second township in the Selangor state in Peninsular Malaysia, has also been plagued with problems of plastic bag use where plastic bags cover 56% of the household waste. Selangor has introduced a plastic bag fee of MYR 0.20 to shoppers who requested for it, albeit the effectiveness of such policy in changing consumer behavior is still unknown. The objectives of the study were to assess consumers’ plastic bags consumption behavior in Bandar Baru Bangi, and determine factors influencing their willingness to pay (WTP) for an increase fee in using biodegradable plastic bags. A questionnaire survey incorporating Contingent Valuation Method was conducted to elicit the consumers’ WTP. The results indicate that majority of the respondents (83%) requested one to three plastic bags per shopping trip. They moderately agreed that their tendency for plastic bag use was influenced by other consumers in the surrounding and highly agreed on the impact of environmental campaigns. The WTP for biodegradable plastic bags was estimated at MYR 0.43 which was influenced by their age and education level. The findings suggest there is a need to revisit the effectiveness of the policy and revise proper intervention measures to reduce plastic bag use

Advertising · Baru · Business · Economics · Geography · Plastic bag · Waste management · Willingness to pay · Engineering · Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · Recycling and Waste Management Techniques · Sustainable Supply Chain Management · Marketing

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