TLDR: everyone is free to s, Been working on an exciting project recently. NEA seeks your views on the proposal for supermarket operators to stipulate a minimum charge for each disposable carrier bag provided (i.e., charge per bag) at supermarkets. Readers keen to provide feedback on the guidelines can do so from Thursday to Feb 17 at this website. 22. And those who are passionate about the environment should come out and lead by exampleThe Government should look at education; look at bigger issues on the environment, not just plastic bags, per se.. Other consumers like Mr Daryl Goh, 42, a businessman, said the extra charge needs to be complemented with incentives to reduce plastic bag usage. This could lead to disputes at check-out counters and longer queue times for customers. Supermarket operators will be strongly encouraged to channel the charge proceeds to environmental or social causes and consider initiatives to support lower-income families. NEA will also develop guidelines for supermarkets on reducing packaging for the delivery of online purchases. During his trip to France to meet President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is staying at a lavish chateau dubbed "the world's most expensive home" when he purchased it in 2015. Whether to Apply Bag Charge to Online Purchases Of this, about two-thirds were disposable bags. So-called "ultra-fast fashion" has won legions of young trend-setting fans who snap up relatively cheap clothes online amid surging inflation, but the booming genre masks darker environmental problems. However, others supported extending the requirement to all supermarkets or retailers as a more effective way to change consumer behaviour. Supermarket Operators Profiteering from the Charge It contributes to the wasting of nonrenewable oil resources and generation of carbon dioxide emissions from incineration, Littering of bags also harms animals and humans by becoming a breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and posing harm to the marine lives when the bags ends up in the sea. However, this isnt something new, as Fairprice has implemented a No Plastic Bag initiative this year. Thank you. NEA has noted these views and proposed that the charge come into effect in mid-2023 to address the abovementioned concerns about livelihoods and inflation, while allowing operators sufficient time to prepare for implementation. In fact, for many households, charging for plastic bags wont be as expensive for them as you think. This is equivalent to 450plastic bags per person each year! A deal has been reached to allow for distribution of a low-cost generic version of a long-term preventative treatment against HIV in low-income countries where most of the world's infections occur, Unitaid and the Medicines Patent Pool announced Thursday. Plastic waste is also the most common type of waste disposed at the incineration plants in Singapore, followed by food waste and paper. Sometimes, the hawker centre stalls you frequent charge an additional 20 cents for the containers and/or bags when you order takeout. Auntie, can you give me one extra plastic bag?. Keeping the minimum charge low will help moderate the cost impact. Singapore Womens Development White Paper, REACH x BaWangChaJi e-Listening Point on Gender Equality and Womens Development (7 - 11 March 2022), REACH e-Listening Point for EZ-Link Customers (21 24 Feb 2022), REACH e-Listening Point with foodpanda Riders (24 28 Feb 2022), REACH x Temasek LEAD programme Listening Point on COVID-19, Terms and Conditions on REACH Post Budget 2022 e-Listening Point (March), Job Competition and Security e-Listening Point, REACH Bus Transport Workers E-Listening Point, REACH Caregivers of Persons with Special Needs e-Listening Point, REACH e-Listening Point for EZ-Link Customers (12 - 15 Nov 2021), REACH e-Listening Point on the Performing Arts Sector, REACH SMS E-Listening Point on COVID-19 (24 July 2021 to 29 July 2021), REACH Social Media E-Listening Point Contest, REACH x Viu e-Listening Point on Gender Equality, REACH Youth Mental Well-being e-Listening Point, REACH Youth Mental Well-being e-Listening Point with Eurasian Association, REACH Youth Mental Well-being e-Listening Point with MENDAKI, REACH Youth Mental Well-being e-Listening Point with Parents, REACH Youth Mental Well-being e-Listening Point with SINDA, REACH e-Listening Point at Blocks 55 to 59 Lengkok Bahru on Covid-19, REACH e-Listening Point at rental flat blocks on Stirling Road & Mei Ling Street, Queenstown Town on Covid-19, REACH E-Listening Point Budget Feedback Exercise (17 23 February 2021), REACH e-Listening Point for Expats Well-Being in Singapore, REACH e-Listening Point with Overseas Singaporeans, REACH e-Listening Point with Taxi and Private-Hire Vehicles Drivers on Cost of Living, REACH Listening Point with Singapore Polytechnic Students on Youth Aspirations and Forward SG, REACH Listening Point with Tenants in Rental Flats on Housing and Cost of Living 28 May to 4 June 2022, REACH SMS E-LISTENING POINT ON COVID-19 (28 May 2021 to 3 June 2021), REACH SMS E-Listening Point on COVID-19 (30 April 2021 to 7 May 2021), Terms and Conditions of e-Listening Point Covid19 on Vaccination for expecting parents, REACH x LiHO Instagram Lucky Draw (2 to 28 Feb 2021), Terms and Conditions of Parents with Children under 12 Years Old e-Listening Point, Terms and Conditions of REACH e-Listening Point on Enhancing Online Safety, REACH Instagram Giveaway (3 to 13 December 2020), Terms and Conditions for Participation in the Feedback & Engagement Bus Tour, a life-cycle assessment study on carrier bags and food packaging in Singapores context, Bag charge not to be applied to online grocery shopping, Supermarket operators must track and publicly disclose the number of bags they issue, the amount of charge proceeds they collect, and how the charge proceeds are used. NEA agrees that customers currently have very few alternatives or no choice in the types or amount of packaging, including disposable carrier bags, used for delivery. 4 To co-create solutions to reduce excessive consumption of disposables, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) convened a Citizens Workgroup in September 2020, comprising 55 members of the public from diverse backgrounds. The guidelinesare intended to discourage the excessive consumption of disposable bags and promote the use of reusable ones. 16. Singapores household recycling rate also pales in comparison to global standards. The agency is seeking feedback on the guidelines, which are part of governmental recommendations to cut waste generated in Singapore. Therefore, replacing disposable plastic bags with paper or biodegradable plastic alternatives will not result in a better environmental outcome. Whether to apply bag the charge to online purchases Furthermore, reusable bag donation bins have been set up at several supermarkets around the island, which allow customers to drop off their unused bags for redistribution. A summary of the feedback on the proposals as well as issues raised, and NEAs responses, are set out below. A few cents here and there might not seem a lot now, but eventually, it will add up. However, upon listening to what Zero Waste SG explained, I realized that this does not have to be the case. Zoila Lecarnaque Saavedra sealed her fate when she agreed to transport a package from Peru to Hong Kong -- a decision that landed her more than eight years in prison. Some were keen to see the charge implemented as soon as possible, with a few suggesting Earth Day or World Environment Day on 22 April or 5 June 2022 respectively. We would like to speak to people in Britain, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who experienced partition or whose family may have been based in India before or during that time Muslim refugees sit on the roof of an overcrowded train near New Delhi as they try to flee India in September, 1947. India's gold demand in the first half of 2022 jumped 42% from a year ago but consumption in the second half could be lower than last year as higher inflation erodes disposable income, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Thursday. Photograph: AP. NEA is proposing for the mandatory plastic bag charge at supermarkets to take effect by the first half of 2023. If youre interested in environmental issues, do check out my other piece onTimely to get hawkers, schools to use less disposable plastic items. The respondents who supported the proposal generally noted that covering the majority of supermarkets would be sufficient to make an impact as well as change consumer behaviour, while the smaller supermarkets need not be burdened. 16 We invite the public to share your views on the proposals with us. In my personal view, public education alone has not really worked infostering green practices among Singaporeans. NEA is mindful of the potential impact the bag charge may have on lower-income households. 12. The guidelines are part of governmental recommendations to cut waste generated in Singapore. Receive our weekly REACH Bytes e-newsletter and be updated on the latest REACH events and public consultations. IKEA Singapore saw a reduction of 5.34 million plastic bags in the first year. A 2018 study done by the non-profit Singapore Environment Council found that shoppers take 820 million disposable carrier bags from supermarkets a year, an average of 146 bags a person. Proposed tracking and reporting of information The spokesman for Zero Waste SG, the environmental charity thatreleased a plastic bag charge policy recommendation paper in 2016, said: Implementing a mandatory bag charge is a much-anticipated step and is in line with a global movement to phase out single-use plastic shopping bags.. Such a nudge strikes a balance between encouraging shoppers to reduce the number of disposable carrier bags they take and minimising the cost impact on shoppers who make large purchases and lower-income households. By not doing anything to resolve this issue and adding to the wasteful consumption of plastic disposables, the people down the road who suffers the consequences is our younger generation. Incentives can change attitudes. Watch our video to learn more about Singaporeans plastic bag habits and find tips to reduce your reliance on plastic bags. Those who suggested a larger amount felt that this would create more awareness and engender a rapid and greater change in behaviour. Climate action and environmental protection is a collective responsibility, and the disposable carrier bag charge will encourage all Singaporeans to adopt sustainable consumption habits in their daily lives. Unlocking potential of clean energy technologies with better regulation. I hope that this blog entry has helped addressed some of your objections and concerns regarding the move to charge for plastic bags. 28. Thats why the government is implementing a mandatory charge of at least $0.05 for each plastic bag used from mid-2023 onwards. Proposed charging model All Cheers and FairPrice Xpress outlets will be including an additional charge of 10 cents for plastic bags. ExxonMobil's profits nearly quadrupled to $17.9 billion in results released Friday that underscored the elevated state of oil and natural gas prices amid commodity market tightness. Copyright 2022, Government of Singapore. Bin liners cost at least $1.20 for a pack of 25. Did you know that Singapore consumes over 2 million plastic bags a day? Consider supporting our brand of purposeful journalism with a donation and keep Eco-Business free for all to read. Need for Disposable Bags for Rubbish Disposal On the proposal not to apply the disposable carrier bag charge to online grocery shopping, many respondents agreed. In the public consultation paper, two charging models were described, namely a per-bag model and a per-transaction model. Thats half of what you spend on bags in the supermarket! NEA proposed that the minimum charge be set low at 5c per bag, to moderate the cost impact on consumers including low-income households, while encouraging them to be mindful of the number of disposable carrier bags they take. 7. The charge would only apply to purchases made at supermarket outlets and not online grocery purchases. Providing Feedback NEA will encourage supermarket operators to voluntarily offer incentives or adopt other initiatives to promote the habit of bringing our own bags. Please have a look at it as it is super informative and interesting. Imagine them dumping trash directly into our rubbish chutes. Assuming you throw out the trash twotimes a week, you will need about 4 packs a year, which means you will be spending at least $4.80 on bin liners in a year. Such efforts led the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) and NEA to convene a work group in September 2020 to address the excessive consumption of disposable items in Singapore. A per-transaction charge could encourage overconsumption as it is a flat fee regardless of the number of bags used. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. The public consultation closed on 17 February 2022. Further study and consultation would be needed to understand the implications of charging for disposable carrier bags, as companies may shift toward using other types of packaging for delivery, which may not necessarily be better for the environment. NEA also agrees that the issue of packaging for online grocery purchases extends beyond disposable carrier bags. This is especially so if consumers feel they are entitled to more bags since they had paid a fee. The cost of getting a reusable bag will save you $1.50 in a year compared to buying your own plastic bags. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and NEA will study how best to address packaging waste from e-commerce, including from online grocery shopping, as we develop the Extended Producer Responsibility framework for packaging waste. Suggestions to Provide Biodegradable or Paper Bags Instead of Plastic Bags 8 A disposable carrier bag refers to a bag that has handles that allow the bag to be carried. Bags without handles, such as those used to bag loose quantities of fresh or raw food (e.g. However, such a per-transaction model may encourage shoppers to take more bags than they need. There are no comments yet. Proposed Tracking and Public Disclosure of Information Number of Bags Issued, Amount of Charge Proceeds Collected, and Usage of Proceeds Lets say you spend $3 for medium-sized plastic bags, which comes in three bundles, each containing 27-30 bags (Roughly 86 bags on average). Environmental activist group, Zero Waste SG, called for our Singapore government and businesses to develop concrete plans to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic disposables in Singapore. The disposable bag charge will not remove access to disposable bags. The respondents who were of the view that a bag charge should be applied to online grocery shopping felt that doing so would send a consistent message, while noting that online grocery purchases have been increasing, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. What does true sustainability look like in the hotel industry? Proposed Implementation Period By First Half of 2023 In Hong Kong, plastic bag consumption was reduced by a whooping 90%. paper, plant-based materials) cannot be realised in Singapore. Bangladesh has launched a corruption probe into Nobel peace laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus over accusations of embezzlement at a telecoms firm he chairs, the country's graft watchdog said Thursday. But what about expenses for disposable plastics we have been incurring without realising? Do yourself and the environment and your wallet by getting yourself a reusable grocery bag now! In my personal experience, Ive also started to notice the problem of wasteful plastic consumption when I joined the workforce two years ago. An estimated two-thirds of the waste was disposable bags. 8. I am already subscribed and want to unsubscribe from the mailing list. A disposable bag charge in the United Kingdom achieved between 70 to 95% reduction in the number of disposable bags used. 25. Under the guidelines, supermarkets will also need to disclose the number of bagsissued, the total amount charged for them and how they use the proceeds. Singaporean households and businesses threw away about 200,000 tonnes of disposables in both 2019 and 2020, enough to fill 400 Olympic-sized pools, the NEA said. Charging per bag is an equitable and effective charging model, as the amount paid will be proportional to the number of disposable carrier bags taken. Proposed Charging Amount 5 to 10 Cents Per Bag I do hope that after reading up more on this issue, more Singapore will be inspired to reduce waste consumption by bringing their own bags, not take plastic cutlery when dabaoing home or back to their office. If implemented island wide, this rebate might have to be subsidised by the government, or supported by companies and non-profit organisations with sufficient financial resources. The per-bag charging model is also adopted by most, if not all, other countries or cities in the world that charge for disposable bags. Bricked-up doorways, crumbling facades and a small group of defiant locals: one of Shanghai's oldest neighbourhoods is barely clinging to life as the city presses ahead with demolition and redevelopment plans. Thats 25 bags every second. Some also suggested publicising the information at supermarket outlets, websites, and media channels; and collating the information on a government website for education and awareness. By not prescribing mandatory monetary rebates, supermarket operators would have the flexibility to come up with suitable incentives to encourage their customers to bring their own bags, which could be in the form of loyalty points, tokens, cash rebates, or discounts. He said: A small charge may not discourage consumers as most seek convenience and can afford it. Compared to charging after a certain number of bags, charging from the first bag would encourage shoppers to always bring their own bags when shopping. To me, it is not right that we should not let our children and future generations pay for these environmental costs so that we can enjoy our free plastic bags. fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood) that is sold without packaging, will not be covered under the mandatory charge. 2 In 2019 and 2020, households and trade premises in Singapore threw away about 200,000 tonnes of disposables annually, which is enough to fill up about 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools. One estimate suggests that Singaporeans consume 13 plastic bags a day. Former All Blacks boss Sir Steve Hansen slammed New Zealand Rugby bosses on Thursday for "not doing their job" and failing to publicly back under-pressure coach Ian Foster. Residents should continue with the responsible practice of bagging waste before disposal. Some supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice, Don Don Donki, and Little Farms have also either started bag charge trials or have already implemented charging for disposable carrier bags. This site is protected by reCAPTHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. While some may argue that If it works for other countries, it doesnt mean that it will work for Singapore, this may not necessarily be the case. The company introduced the Green Rewards scheme to reward customers who bring their own reusable bags with a 10-cent rebate for purchases above $10. 7 In response to the Citizens Workgroups recommendation, the Government proposes to make it a legal requirement by the first half of 2023 for large supermarket operators to charge for disposable carrier bags issued at their checkout counters, regardless of the type of material used for the bag. As such, the potential environmental benefits of using biodegradable materials (e.g. After NTUC Fairprice implements its surcharge, some of us might switch to buying trash bags or bin liners from the supermarket instead. Public feedback on the newguidelines are now being sought through Reach, the Government's feedback unit.