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Letter to Today Online from Kan Hwa Heng 6 Jun 05
Lead the way, FairPrice: Charge for the plastics
Letter to Today Online from Joan D'Arcy 6 Jun 05
Join forces and say 'no' to plastic bags
Letter to Today Online from Eileen Low 7Jun 05
Lame excuses reflect the uphill task of changing habits
Letter to Today Online from the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, 15 Jun 05
Problem is disposal, not use
Letter to Today Online, 16 Jun 05
Don't give plastic excuses
These bags can harm environment — and that's the big issue
Letter from Kan Hwa Heng
Letter from Hor Boon Hooi


Today Online 4-5 Jun 05
Bags full of trouble
Hooked on plastic, S'poreans won't change unless forced to by law
Lee U-Wen u-wen@newstoday.com.sg

THIS is a typical Singapore story in search of a happy ending.

Ask Singaporeans if their compatriots care about the environment and the answer is emphatic: No, they don't. Ask them if they, themselves, know how serious the issue of plastic bags is — Singapore consumes an estimated 40 billion plastic bags each year or 27 per person per day — and, as expected, the answer is no. They had no idea the situation was so bad.

So now that the problem has been spelled out and the consequences explained, we inch towards the obvious solution. Since this tiny island cannot afford to be swathed in plastic, which generally is not biodegradable, shouldn't there be a reduction in its use? And since consumers take away at least a million plastic bags for free each day (the rest go into areas such as production, packaging and lining public waste bins) would they agree to pay 5 cents for each bag? Just so that bags are not needlessly used?

The answer is a resounding no. This from the 100 people who took part in a Today survey for this report.

The solution they propose on the eve of World Environment Day on Sunday is surprisingly Singaporean.

Just who will remove the wrapper? Forget surveys. Would a business in Singapore dare to be different and risk losing its customers by making them pay for plastic bags?

Ms Christel Ludwig tried. She runs the German Market Place, a store on Bukit Timah Road that sells food and spirits and used to go through as many as 5,000 bags per month. Back in her home country, Germany, the practice of charging for plastic bags has been in vogue for 15 years and Ms Ludwig thought she had every reason to try it here.

"Probably, not many customers realise that the cost of the plastic bags used by stores is passed on to them," she said. "Charging is fair as only those customers who want bags get charged. This method also discourages waste as customers don't ask for more bags than they need."

But theory is one thing and putting it into practice in the Singapore market is quite another. In January, Ms Ludwig took a deep breath and started charging customers 5 cents for each regular-sized bag and twice that for bigger ones.

The scheme has been a stunning success. The number of plastic bags the shop uses has dropped by half. She has noticed that nearly half the people who visit her shop now bring their own shopping bags. And there has been no dip in sales.

But don't expect larger retailers to go this route right away. There is a catch. Almost four out of every five customers at Ms Ludwig's shop are expatriates.

Convincing the average Singaporean to follow suit is far more difficult, as Ikea found to its discomfort. The furniture giant observed Earth Day in April by doing away with plastic shopping bags for three days and encouraging shoppers to bring their own. It kept used plastic bags on standby and sold brown paper bags for 10 cents and its trademark blue bags for $1. An estimated 40,000 plastic bags were "saved" during that Earth Day weekend. Encouraging? Hardly.

"We were berated by our customers for doing something stupid," said an Ikea employee who did not wish to be named. "I was frustrated and saddened. It all seems to boil down to that key problem in our country — self-centredness and a 'me, me, me' mentality."

But there was a glimmer of hope as Ikea said that some customers wanted the campaign to be made more frequent, if not permanent.

Meanwhile, other retailing giants are treading carefully. According to NTUC FairPrice chairman Chandra Das, while some Singaporeans are warming up to recyclable and reusable bags, "it would take a long time" before any tangible result could be seen from this lifestyle change.

Earlier this week, FairPrice launched a reusable Green Bag at its stores, after importing 40,000 of them from China. They are currently being sold to shoppers at 99 cents each. . "We know that we have to start somewhere and a small step is better than not doing anything at all," he added.

Cold Storage and Carrefour, meanwhile, also feel they have done their bit to encourage customers to buy reusable shopping bags and to listen to those who ask for fewer bags. . But so far, no major chain has dared to start charging openly for plastic bags. In Today's survey, only 21 per cent of the respondents said they would be willing to pay a nominal fee of 5 cents for every bag they received while shopping.

Of course, the National Environment Agency has tried to minimise the fallout from the use of so much plastic by collecting used bags and disposing of them at its four incineration plants. The heat from the incineration process is used to generate electricity. . But it is not simply a matter of collecting the bags and getting rid of them. Apart from the cost — each plastic bag costs more than 2 cents — there is also the related problem of scooping up the bags that do not find their way into rubbish bins.

Last September, 2,000 volunteers combed Singapore's beaches and mangroves and picked up 88,000 discarded items. Plastic bags and containers accounted for three-quarters of the rubbish.

The Singapore Environment Council has long advocated the use of biodegradable bags but no one is especially hopeful this will work, as consumers will be expected to pay for them. By consensus, the preferred solution is a bit more direct.

That familiar feeling. Singaporeans have long complained that it is always the Government that is expected to come up with solutions to even the most basic problems.

But, when pressed for ways to reduce the plastic mist, their answer was: Let the Government step in and pass a law, just as it did to curb littering and smoking in public areas. Support for a law to ban or charge for plastic bags came even from Mr Grant Pereira, head of the Green Volunteers Network, the volunteer arm of the SEC.

But wait. Before slamming the Singaporean penchant for passing laws to solve every problem, naysayers should know that this is exactly what developed countries are doing. Switzerland, Denmark and South Africa charge for bags. Three years ago, Ireland imposed a 15-cent tax on plastic bags, resulting in a 90 per cent decrease in usage. In the first year and a half, the levy there raised 13.5 million euros ($27.6 million), which has been funnelled into recycling facilities around the country.

Closer to home, Bangladesh and parts of India have banned plastic bags all together. Bangladesh learned its lesson the hard way as 9.3 million bags were dumped in Dhaka every day and there were major floods in 1989 and 1998 as the plastic choked drains.

Said Mr Pereira, who is in his 50s: "Charging for bags won't take off here unless it's an island-wide initiative. We need to be regulated, the Government must say that stores have to start charging. . "Otherwise, retailers are asking what if they lose their customers to others. But have they thought: What if something good comes of it?"

Survey Results (100 respondents) – conducted by Dawn Quek, Joyce Lin, Patricia Yap. Jasmine Zhao and Mervin Tay

Did you know that Singaporeans, on average, use about 27 plastic bags per person each day? . Yes – 9% No – 91%

Did you know that one million plastic bags are given out free in Singapore each day?
Yes – 18% No – 82%

Are you aware of any alternatives to using plastic bags? . Yes – 74% No – 26% .

Would you be willing to pay five cents for every plastic bag you get when you go shopping? . Yes – 21% No – 79% .

Do you feel that, in general, Singaporeans are concerned about saving the environment? . Yes – 12% No – 88%

Letter to Today Online from Kan Hwa Heng 6 Jun 05
Lead the way, FairPrice: Charge for the plastics
After initial protests, customers will fall in line with move.

I refer to your Weekend cover story, "Bags full of trouble" (June 4-5).

It is clear that something needs to be done to reduce the use of plastic bags in Singapore. The most effective solution may be for supermarkets and convenience stores to implement a charge of 5 cents for each plastic bag.

Recently, I was in Taiwan and though I was not too happy to have to pay for plastic bags at the convenience stores, it sure made me reuse the bags.

NTUC FairPrice should take the lead in introducing charges for plastic bags because of the social role it plays in Singapore. Unlike other supermarket chains, FairPrice was set up to stabilise the prices of essential goods by keeping prices low. It is the largest supermarket chain with more than 100 stores islandwide. In addition, it owns other stores such as Liberty Market, Cheers Convenience Store, The Pasar, Baker's Corner and Homemart. Hence, FairPrice is in a very good position to take the lead.

FairPrice's 99-cent Green Bag initiative is commendable, but not good enough. I wouldn't use those bags because their plastic bags are still available for free. Besides, I don't want to be the odd one out at the checkout counter by being the only one who carries his own plastic bags. It would also slow down the checkout process and cause inconvenience to other shoppers.

Some consumers may protest initially, but once they get used to the idea, they will see that it still makes sense to shop at FairPrice due to its reasonable prices and convenient locations.

However, due to the scale of FairPrice's operation, it is unlikely to experience any significant impact on its business resulting from the introduction of the charge.

If FairPrice starts the ball rolling, other supermarkets and minimarts are likely to follow suit. It must be remembered that FairPrice's primary mission is not profit maximisation. I think it is FairPrice's social responsibility to take the lead in this matter.

Kan Hwa Heng

Letter to Today Online from Joan D'Arcy 6 Jun 05
Join forces and say 'no' to plastic bags

It is amazing how things have to get to an extreme level before anything is done about it.

In South Africa, my homeland, the plastic shopping bag was eventually referred to as South Africa's National Flower. This was because one could see them clinging to fences, bushes and trees and dotted all over our beautiful landscape, having been blown by the wind from refuse disposal sites.

When it became law to buy shopping bags instead of getting them for free, there was a bit of an uproar. But, as always, the adage "when you can't beat them, join them" held true.

We started carrying rolled up plastic bags in our handbags so that we wouldn't be caught out if we popped into the supermarket on our way home from work or play. I kept a few cardboard boxes in the boot of my car for the heavier, bulkier items.

I am sure that people here are not aware that the cost of these plastic bags is passed on to the consumer. If a law is passed here, or all retailers join forces and say "no" to free plastic bags, people will have to adapt — and they will.

Do your bulk shopping once a month so that all heavy items can be delivered to your home, as retailers Carrefour and Cold Storage do for free if your bill is more than $150.

Carry a few plastic bags in your handbag for the odd shopping trips.

Buy one of the special environment-friendly bags that some supermarkets are selling — they last a long time.

This is the only country you have — save it. It will not regenerate itself if it is ruined by those who live here.

Joan D'Arcy

Letter to Today Online from Eileen Low 6 Jun 05
Lame excuses reflect the uphill task of changing habits

I am very glad to read your report on the use of plastic bags usage. I have been carrying my own plastic bags to supermarkets and the reactions I get are:

• One or two of the staff thank me for using my own plastic bags.
• A few do as I ask without saying a word.
• Many say it is the management's policy that only the supermarket chain's bags can be used.
• Some refuse, saying: "No need lah, so cheap, the supermarket will pay — use new plastic bags better".

There are other encounters I wish to share.

At one big bakery, I asked the cashier to put two or three buns into the same small plastic bag. Their response was that it is the "government" policy that each bun should go into separate bags for purposes of hygiene! If I, as the consumer, do not mind eating a slightly flattened bun, why should the cashier mind?

Another time, I bought some ham which came with a free block of butter. The sales promoter put the butter into a separate bag even though I had asked her to put it in with the ham. She countered that if the butter melted and seeped into the ham, I would complain to the management and she would get into trouble.

I can see it is an uphill task to educate people on the need to reduce the usage of plastic bags.

I am all for charging for such bags in order to change habits.

Eileen Leow

Letter to Today Online from the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, 15 Jun 05
Problem is disposal, not use
Better environmental awareness would remove need to limit use of bags

We refer to the several reports and readers' letters on the subject of plastic bags that have appeared in Today.

The Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC) represents many companies in Singapore that deal with plastic. Like your reporters and readers, we are concerned about a sustainable future for Singapore and a clean and green environment for ourselves and our children.

In the debate about plastic bags specifically, it is important to distinguish between the use of plastic bags and the disposal of plastic bags.

Consumers may have to use many plastic bags out of need and for meaningful purposes. However, consumers should not be wasteful and must be mindful to dispose of them responsibly, so as not to create waste and pollute the environment.

Plastic bags per se do not pollute. The fact that they have become the carrier of choice reflects their many positive attributes. They are cost effective, light, strong, waterproof and even "smell proof" when properly sealed.

The SCIC agrees that plastic bags must be disposed of properly. We agree that there is wastage in usage that must be managed. We agree that plastic bags should be re-used or recycled. We believe we must conserve our world's resources.

But we disagree with the suggestion that we must curb the use of plastic bags through penalising for their usage. This will not do anything for the environment if our anti-social behaviour persists.

It is inconsiderate human behaviour and the "I-don't-care" attitude of some people that needs to be addressed. . The way forward is to inculcate environmentally-conscious and socially responsible behaviour among the people who live in Singapore and ensure that we dispose of our waste responsibly.

Taking ownership of our environment, not just our personal space, is where we should focus our energies. . It will also help if each of us can do our best for conservation. Otherwise, the same people who litter with plastic bags will do the same with other alternative carriers.

It would be a shame if "white pollution" were merely replaced by a different type of pollution.It is to this end that some members of our industry have been working with the National Environment Agency to encourage litter-free behaviour among young people in our schools, and to effect behaviour change through litter-free public events as well.

Education is the key to this process. Coupled with conservation and enforcement, it should succeed over time in effecting the desired behaviour change.

Ooi Chwee Kim
Chairman, Singapore Chemical Industry Council

Letter to Today Online, 16 Jun 05
Don't give plastic excuses
These bags can harm environment — and that's the big issue
Letter from Kan Hwa Heng
Letter from Hor Boon Hooi

Fee for bags not a penalty

I refer to the letter from the Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC) chairman Mr Ooi Chwee Kim about the disposal of plastic bags (June 15). .

It is commendable that the SCIC is working with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to encourage litter-free behaviour. However, the council seems to have missed the point.

The SCIC presents the problem as one of disposal and not usage. Isn't the problem of disposal true for any type of garbage, be it plastic, paper or food?

The key problem is that plastic bags are not biodegradable and can harm the environment. Hence, we need to encourage people to use fewer plastic bags.

The SCIC views the charging of plastic bags as penalising usage. I disagree with this view. The charge is not a penalty. The purpose of the charge is to encourage people to use fewer plastic bags. It is a powerful catalyst that will help effect the desired behaviour change. . While education is important, it is not the complete solution. Some direct means to encourage less usage is also critical.

Besides working with the NEA to encourage litter-free behaviour, the SCIC might also help the NEA to educate the public about how the overuse of plastic bags can harm the environment.

Look into disposal methods

I am writing in response to the Singapore Chemical Industry Council chairman Mr Ooi Chwee Kim's letter, "Problem is disposal, not use" (June 15). . He wrote: " ... Plastic bags per se do not pollute. The fact that they have become the carrier of choice reflects their many positive attributes ... But we disagree with the suggestion that we must curb the use of plastic bags through penalising for their usage. This will not do anything for the environment if our anti-social behaviour persists."

As the chairman of SCIC, his deliberation on the issue may have been biased. What happened to the "cradle to grave principle" — where the producers of a given product must also be responsible for its disposal — embraced by chemical companies worldwide?

The problem is not just about anti-social behaviour of some plastic bag users. What about looking at disposal technology? It is unwise to come out with a sweeping statement without investing resources and efforts into solving the problem.

A couple of years ago, we found that lead was poisonous. We did not blame the anti-social behaviour of drivers. We removed lead from circulation.

I am not suggesting we take plastic items out of circulation. I wish to go beyond the debate to encourage further studies on the issue. These bags can harm environment — and that's the big issue.
links
 More about plastic bags and other marine debris that threatens our marine wildlife on Coastal Clean Up Singapore
 Related articles on marine litter, Global issues: marine and plastic bags
More articles on Singapore: general environmental issues
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