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  Today Online 25 Jun 07
For environment's sake, use biodegradable bags
Letter from Goh Kian Huat

Straits Times Forum 12 Jun 07
Post global warming pointers on utility bills
Letter from Herbert Goh Hiok

Straits Times Forum 8 Jun 07
Supermarkets half hearted on Bring Your Own Bag campaign
Letter from Regina Koh Soo Luan (Ms)

Straits Times Forum 8 Jun 07
Cashier put plastic bag in shopper's canvas bag
Letter from Sandra De Souza (Ms)

I WRITE this letter with some amusement because that seems the best way that I can take the event that took place.

On Wednesday, I went to Cold Storage in Sixth Avenue and brought my own canvas carryall as I would like to contribute to this worldwide cause of saving the earth. I was surprised to see many plastic bags used at checkout and no one seemed to have brought their own bags, and the cashiers did not 'enforce' any kind of participation.

When it was my turn, the cashier immediately started putting my purchases in a plastic bag, so I told her I had brought my own bag and gave it to her. Amusingly, she continued to put my purchases in the plastic bag and then put the plastic bag in my canvas bag. (All this happened rather quickly, as I didn't have much).

I immediately stopped her and said, 'No, that's why I've brought my own bag, so you don't have to use the plastic bag.' I received a stony stare and mild throwing around of goods and bags.

I had to see the funny side of it, or just get mad.

The point here is that not enough is done to educate everyone on this practice. Let's hope that when the next Bring Your Own Bag day comes around, there will be some improvement - and a few more smiles.

Straits Times Forum 8 Jun 07
Supermarkets half hearted on Bring Your Own Bag campaign
Letter from Regina Koh Soo Luan (Ms)

I SOMEHOW felt the Bring Your Own Bag campaign was launched half heartedly by supermarkets because they were not sure if they could implement it successfully, fully accepted by all their customers.

They started with one Wednesday a month, so not much emphasis was given to it. However, this would decide if the campaign would succeed or fail.

What if many customers avoided that Wednesday because they did not wish to bring their own bags or pay for them? Would that mean the campaign would not take off but remain once a month?

I don't shop on weekdays so I brought my own bags to FairPrice on Sundays. I noticed the cashier did not or could not hang my bag as she did with the plastic bags she provided, while she packed my groceries.

The bag was put on the counter as she shoved the groceries into it. It appeared she was not well prepared for this situation, so when it is more crowded on Sundays it is more inconvenient for cashiers like her.

I felt uneasy as if I was making her job more difficult. Now I have doubts on whether I should continue to bring my bags on Sundays, as I get looks from other customers as if to say, 'What are you doing, bringing bags on Sunday?'

Straits Times Forum 12 Jun 07
Post global warming pointers on utility bills
Letter from Herbert Goh Hiok

I HAVE noticed that local supermarkets are now using fewer plastic bags but do the public really understand the meaning of global warming? People are still using plastic bags, especially in the food stalls and wet markets.

Efforts to save the Earth must be accompanied by an educational campaign nationwide. Take Hong Kong for instance. In addition to controlling plastic bag usage, it has embarked on a campaign to help the public understand the repercussions of not using fewer plastic bags.

We can do likewise and help the older generation understand why we need to curb the use of plastic bags and what the causes of global warming are.

One suggestion: Provide pointers on global warming in utility bills so that people will take notice and read it. It should be done in the four major languages.

Today Online 25 Jun 07
For environment's sake, use biodegradable bags
Letter from Goh Kian Huat

EVERY first Wednesday of the month is Bring Your Own Bag Day at major participating supermarkets such as Carrefour, Giant, NTUC FairPrice and Prime Supermarket. Surveys show about 70 per cent of shoppers have supported this initiative so far.

The campaign aims to encourage shoppers to use reusable bags instead of single-use plastic bags, so as to minimise plastic-bag usage and wastage. The latter end up as litter that could pose a threat to the environment by suffocating marine life and choking up drains, which could lead to mosquito breeding.

These problems are aggravated as most plastic bags do not break down even decades after they are disposed of.

Recently, my family went to the Jusco shopping centre at Aeon Tebrau City in Johor. I was surprised to see that biodegradable plastic bags are given out there. On the light-green bags was the message: "This plastic bag is biodegradable. Please recycle this bag to save our environment."

Biodegradable plastic bags can be safely broken down by naturally occurring micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae as quickly as within a few months to up to three years. This also helps prevent litter from accumulating.

I urge more retailers to consider using biodegradable bags for the sake of our environment.
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