Visitors to Ramadhan food stalls will need to bring their own reusable bags as the government’s plastic bag-free directive will soon be imposed on open-air markets.

In a memo issued on Monday, the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department called on vendors operating in the parking lot at Jalan Bendahara to support the initiative.

The memo stated that vendors are not allowed to provide plastic bags to visitors from Thursday to Sunday, but they will be able to purchase reusable bags from a nearby booth.

A similar memo was issued by the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Board on May 9, applying to vendors at Bangunan Tudung Saji and around the vicinity of Pasarneka Seria.

“It is the responsibility of all individuals, institutions or organisations to end plastic pollution and ensure that our environment is free from pollution,” the memo read.

Ramadhan stalls in Tutong and Temburong will also go plastic-bag free from Thursday to Sunday.

Brunei authorities will sight the moon on Tuesday, which means the first day of the fasting month will either fall on Wednesday or Thursday.

In March, the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRE) announced plans to phase out plastic bag use in supermarkets by 2019.

JASTRe said it will soon extend the directive to smaller retail shops, restaurants and market vendors.

This article was updated at 10am on May 15, 2018.