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8 Sep 05 Stop using plastic bags for a month to promote green habit Letter from Damien Heng Teng Wei Straits Times Forum online 5 Sep 05 Impose tax on plastic grocery bags to save environment We are a group of students from Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) who are involved in a conservation project concerning the use of plastic grocery bags in supermarkets. We feel there is a lack of conservation efforts in Singapore as compared to other countries such as Australia and Ireland. Recently, NTUC Fairprice implemented the Green Bag project with the aim of reducing the number of plastic bags used. Instead of using plastic bags, they came up with the Green Bag, which could be used repeatedly and would be the ideal substitute. It is extremely encouraging that there is such a project, as there is too huge a wastage of plastic bags. We feel that even though such an effort was made, a lot more needs to be done. More campaigns and advertisements in the media are needed to raise the awareness of Singaporeans about conservation. This is to ensure that they know the importance and pressing need to reduce our usage of plastic bags. Our survey findings and newspaper reports show that Singaporeans are not aware of the need of conservation and that a majority does not support it. Thus, our group proposes the implementation of other programmes such as a tax on plastic grocery bags. Ireland is one of the countries which have implemented such a programme. Our group believes that this can be done in Singapore as well. However, for such a programme to succeed, the government and environmental agencies need to participate in the programme. This is to ensure that supermarket chains participate and carry out conservation efforts. Interviews have shown that the supermarkets are reluctant to implement a tax for fear of losing business. Its implementation may cause an uproar, but this is the best solution. We hope the environmental agencies, supermarket chains and the public will support and participate actively in such programmes, with all performing their part for greater environmental awareness. Eileen Ang Chen Yixiang John Chen Yongliang Chng Chin Kiat Melvin Kan Nanyang Junior College Straits Times Forum online 8 Sep 05 Stop using plastic bags for a month to promote green habit Letter from Damien Heng Teng Wei My parents just came back from a tour in Perth. From what they observed and told me, I feel Singaporeans are being complacent and want everything to be convenient for themselves. My mum told me that the culture in Perth is extremely environment-friendly. The local people bring their own bags when shopping for their groceries. They rarely use the plastic bags provided. On one occasion, my mum went to a petrol kiosk to buy ten boxes of chocolates and other groceries. After the purchase, she discovered that the kiosk did not provide plastic bags. Though it was inconvenient, my parents made two trips to put their groceries into the car. I urge the environmental authorities to look into this issue and encourage shops to stop using plastic bags for a month instead of just on Earth Day, which is only one day. Such a campaign will be more effective in helping to protect the environment. links Related articles on Singapore: plastic bags More articles on Singapore: general environmental issues |
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