This would also discourage shoppers from taking many bags and double-bagging grocery items. Many respondents preferred that the charge be implemented by the first half of 2023. NEA agrees that mandatory declarations will ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the proceeds. Proposed Charging Amount 5 to 10 Cents Per Bag 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. The 38-year-old Malaysian allegedly conspired with his compatriot to help the Singaporean and Thai couple escape from Singapore. Receive our weekly REACH Bytes e-newsletter and be updated on the latest REACH events and public consultations. 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. Zero Waste SG has calculated that if a typical household takes 520 bags a year from the supermarkets and reuse them for bagging waste, and if there is a 10 cents charge on each plastic bag, it would cost a household $52 a year. NEA also agrees that the issue of packaging for online grocery purchases extends beyond disposable carrier bags. Feel free to check out these supermarket discounts for senior citizens as well! 16. Here are some more hacks for saving on your next grocery run. The move to charge for plastic bags has proven to be successful in many other countries. Of this, about two-thirds were disposable bags. NEA thanks all respondents for taking the time to submit their valuable feedback. 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. Providing Feedback Mandatory efforts by IKEA Singapore to charge 5 cents for plastic bags in 2007 (and to stop the sale of plastic bags completely since 2013) have resulted in much success. Background All rights reserved. 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. 13 NEA seeks your views on the proposal not to apply the disposable carrier bag charge to online grocery purchases. Bin liners cost at least $1.20 for a pack of 25. He said: A small charge may not discourage consumers as most seek convenience and can afford it. This change will affect all the large supermarkets in Singapore, including familiar names such as NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant, Sheng Siong and Prime. 6. Supermarket operators with annual revenue above a stipulated threshold, Whether to apply charge to online purchases, In-store purchases at supermarket outlets covered; online grocery shopping not covered, Supermarket operators must track and publicly disclose the number of bags they issue, the amount of charge proceeds they collect, and how they use the charge proceeds. Zero Waste SG suggested that these reusable bags could be donated from the public (unused and washed) or from the private sector (excess bags from events). Thats why the government is implementing a mandatory charge of at least $0.05 for each plastic bag used from mid-2023 onwards. 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. 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. In fact, for many households, charging for plastic bags wont be as expensive for them as you think. Timely to get hawkers, schools to use less disposable plastic items, Why elitism in Singapore exists & how to change it, The Case For Mandatory Eldercare Leave In Singapore, What Finding Dory Teaches Us About Protecting Our Oceans. NEA seeks your views on the proposal to subject supermarket operators with annual revenue that is above a stipulated threshold to the requirements. SINGAPORE The National Environment Agency (NEA) on Thursday (27 January) invited the public to share their views on a proposal for supermarkets to impose a minimum 5 to 10 cents charge for each plastic bag taken at check-out counters. 8. Findings show that each type of packaging material results in different environmental impact such as global warming, high water consumption or land use change during their production, transportation, and disposal. This means that if a shopper needs disposable carrier bags, they will be charged a standard amount per transaction, regardless of how many bags they need. However, this isnt something new, as Fairprice has implemented a No Plastic Bag initiative this year. Based on feedback from our industry consultations, it could be confusing and operationally challenging for supermarket operators to implement both a charge per disposable carrier bag and a rebate for customers who bring their own bags. A bag charge in Singapore will contribute towards the objective in the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to reduce the amount of waste to landfill per capita per day by 20 per cent by 2026 and 30 per cent by 2030. But what about expenses for disposable plastics we have been incurring without realising? Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. The threshold stipulated should cover a majority of supermarkets in Singapore. 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According to Zero Wast SG, about 30-70% of plastics waste disposed in Singapore are single-use plastic disposables such as plastic takeaway containers and cups, plastic utensils, plastic bags, and plastic bottles. NEA agrees that a per-bag charging model is equitable and effective. 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. 20. Disposable bags, including those for the bagging of fresh produce such as fruits and fish, will still be available from supermarkets as well as other retail outlets. This will help contribute towards our objective in the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to reduce the amount of waste to landfill per capita per day by 20 per cent by 2026, while providing sufficient time for the industry to prepare for implementation. This would cover major supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant, Sheng Siong, and Prime. 11. However, it may not be financially sustainable for supermarkets and retailers. Incentives can change attitudes. However, when shoppers see that they will be charged for a bag, they are more likely to pause and reconsider their need for the bag. 14. 12 NEA seeks your views on the proposal to subject supermarket operators with annual revenue that is above a stipulated threshold to the requirements of charging for bags at their outlets . 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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. 3. Eco-Business asks two hospitality executives , Climate-linked strife now ravishing Mali, Venezuela and Syria could play out in vulnerable countries such as Indonesia, India, , In his first state of the nation address, Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr said the government will prioritise , Coastal forests trap huge volumes of greenhouse gases and protect people from flood risks. There are no comments yet. 25. Assuming you use at least three plastic bags per supermarket visit, you will spend an estimated 10 cents on plastic bags. AsiaOne has launchedEarthOne, a new section dedicated to environmental issues because we love the planet and we believe science. The topics currently put up for feedback are the proposed charging model, amount to be charged, coverage of the scheme, and the implementation timeline. On the proposal not to apply the disposable carrier bag charge to online grocery shopping, many respondents agreed. 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. The cost of getting a reusable bag will save you $1.50 in a year compared to buying your own plastic bags. Did you know that Singapore consumes over 2 million plastic bags a day? "Inflation is making it difficult for people, especially in rural areas, to save more and allocate to gold," Somasundaram PR, regional chief executive officer of WGC's Indian operations, told Reuters. while there has been an 86% reduction in plastic bag use on the NUS campus. 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. 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. This is to strike a balance between nudging 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, NEA said on the proposal. The minimum charge would be reviewed after assessing the effectiveness of the 5c charge in reducing the number of disposable carrier bags consumed. Sometimes, the hawker centre stalls you frequent charge an additional 20 cents for the containers and/or bags when you order takeout. Bag charges in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and the Netherlands reduced the consumption of disposable bags by about 60 to 90 per cent. The views expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of any organization I am part of. 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. After NTUC Fairprice implements its surcharge, some of us might switch to buying trash bags or bin liners from the supermarket instead. Aim 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. However, upon listening to what Zero Waste SG explained, I realized that this does not have to be the case. Discussions of this work group, which comprised 55 members of the public of diverse backgrounds, resulted in the recommendation of a charge for disposable carrier bags in January 2021. Respondents brought up other suggestions, such as providing space at supermarket check-out counters for shoppers to pack groceries into their own bags; self-checkout counters without disposable carrier bags; providing used cardboard boxes for shoppers to carry groceries; and allowing the public to suggest good causes or initiatives that supermarkets could channel the proceeds towards. Copyright 2021 SPH Media Limited. Spanish prosecutors said Friday they would seek a prison sentence of more than eight years against global music superstar Shakira, after she rejected a plea deal on accusations of tax evasion. Respondents who disagreed felt that the requirement would be administratively challenging and add to costs. This is especially so if consumers feel they are entitled to more bags since they had paid a fee. In the public consultation paper, two charging models were described, namely a per-bag model and a per-transaction model. Lets take a closer look at the costs incurred by the continued usage of plastic bags. 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. A few cents here and there might not seem a lot now, but eventually, it will add up. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. 14 NEA seeks your views on the proposal for supermarket operators to be required to track and publicly disclose information on the number of bags they issue, the amount of charge proceeds they collect, and how they use the charge proceeds. Proposed Tracking and Public Disclosure of Information Number of Bags Issued, Amount of Charge Proceeds Collected, and Usage of Proceeds The rewards scheme costs FairPrice about $500,000 every year. On suggestions to require rebates in lieu of a charge, NEA notes that the disposable carrier bag charge has proven to be highly effective in overseas jurisdictions. In fact, some went as far as to comment, People need plastic bags to contain their rubbish the streets of Singapore would be full of rubbish if you do not give them out for free, it will be a disaster., Most dwellers use plastic bags to recycle as trash bag. It not only uses up resources, but also adds to Singapores carbon emissions when they are incinerated in our waste-to-energy plants, it said. 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. A common concern raised was that households needed disposable bags to bag their waste. 1. The study found that disposables, regardless of whether they are made of paper, plastics, or biodegradable plastics, impact the environment when they are produced, transported, and disposed of. But falling demand for gold imports could help narrow India's trade deficit and support an ailing rupee. NEA proposed to require affected supermarket operators to publicly disclose information on the number of bags issued, amount of proceeds collected from the bag charge, and how the proceeds are used. The unmistakable boom of shellfire echoed around the bomb-scarred buildings of western Kharkiv as the mayor of Ukraine's one-time Soviet capital prepared for his interview. Supermarket operators with an annual turnover of less than S$100 million and other retailers can voluntarily charge for bags, just as many retailers are already doing. Thats 25 bags every second. 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Many supported a charge of 5c or 10c per bag, with some suggesting amounts greater than 10c. The points raised have been taken into consideration when finalising the design of the policy. 1 The National Environment Agency (NEA) is inviting members of the public to provide feedback on the proposed disposable carrier bag charge at supermarkets in Singapore. Many respondents preferred a per-bag charging model as this was perceived as a fairer model where consumers would pay for what they used. The guidelines are part of governmental recommendations to cut waste generated in Singapore. This is equivalent to 450plastic bags per person each year! Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. When developing the policy proposal for the plastic bag charge at supermarkets, NEA consulted over 1,000 stakeholders and studied the experiences of other countries. Some concerned citizens expressed that this move to charge consumers for plastic bags may disproportionately affect the poor. Plastic bags take up to 500 years to decompose. Bags used for carrying prescription medicines. This was proposed in the National Environment Agencys (NEA)new guidelines on a disposable carrier bag charge announced on Thursday (Jan 27). 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. However, there were others who were of the view that the charge should be delayed, given that livelihoods were still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as rising inflation. This International Day for , Transforming Innovation for Sustainability, People: Movers and shakers in sustainability, Nature-based solutions in Indonesia: the power of nature, Unlocking Capital for Sustainability 2022: The role of sustainable finance in a disrupted world, study by the Singapore Environment Council. 27. 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. Photograph: AP. The charge will not apply for online purchases. The disposable bag charge will not remove access to disposable bags. 3 NEA had previously commissioned a life-cycle assessment study on carrier bags and food packaging in Singapores context. Proposed charging model Those who suggested a larger amount felt that this would create more awareness and engender a rapid and greater change in behaviour. Summary of Feedback and NEAs Responses NEA will also encourage supermarket operators and other organisations to adopt initiatives to lessen the potential impact of the charge, such as incentives or initiatives to encourage customers to bring their own bags, or distribution of reusable bags. Clean and green Singapore incinerates almost all of its non-recyclable waste, with the ash and some solid waste shipped to Pulau Semakau, a nearby manmade island, but that is estimated to be filled by 2035. 23. Introduction Conclusion In Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Taiwan, a plastic bag charge resulted in about 80%, 70%, and 60% decrease respectively in the number of plastic bags given out. Nonetheless, NEA will continue to encourage retail stores which have already introduced voluntary carrier bag charges to continue to do so, and others which have yet to introduce a carrier bag charge to consider similar charges. A 2018 study by the Singapore Environment Council also found that shoppers take 820 million disposable carrier bags from supermarkets alone a year, translating to an average of 146 bags per person. Similarly, another Initiative by the National University of Singapores Students Against Violation of the Earth (NUS SAVE) club to implement a 10-cent plastic bag tax since 2010, have resulted in much success. This puts Singapore way belowother developed economies like the United Kingdom and Taiwan, where the household recycling rates in 2013 were 44.2 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively. 8 A disposable carrier bag refers to a bag that has handles that allow the bag to be carried. While feedback from environmental agencies has been positive, responses to the guidelines from environmentally conscious consumers have been mixed. Bags used for carrying food without packaging, Bags used for carrying frozen or chilled food, Bags used for carrying food in non-airtight or unsealed packaging. Companies such as NTUC FairPrice and H&M charge a small fee for customers who wish to use a plastic 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. NTUC FairPrices CEO Seah Kian Peng also expressed that while he would not rule out charging consumers for plastic bags, the company prefers to use anincentive schemeto reduce the use of plastic bags. There are also practical issues to consider for reusable packaging like returnable crates, such as potentially longer delivery times and ensuring that the crates are returned by customers. The group proposed that retailers charge their customers 10 cents and 5 cents for large and smaller plastic bags respectively. 21. Proposed tracking and reporting of information If youre interested to read more about this topic, Zero Waste SG has released a Position Paper on the reduction of single-use plastic disposables in Singaporeand a recommendation paper on this topic. Need for Disposable Bags for Rubbish Disposal Assuming you bought a reusable bag, you can save up to $3.90 in a year, and you can keep all that money for other expenses like a trip to the gym or even a nice meal with friends. 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). Some companies are trying to change Singapores predilection for plastic by encouraging customers to BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag. A disposable bag charge in the United Kingdom achieved between 70 to 95% reduction in the number of disposable bags used. In Hong Kong, plastic bag consumption was reduced by a whooping 90%. 9 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. On 27 January 2022, the National Environment Agency (NEA) published a public consultation paper on the REACH portal to seek feedback on the proposed disposable carrier bag charge at supermarkets in Singapore. In my personal experience, Ive also started to notice the problem of wasteful plastic consumption when I joined the workforce two years ago. Other Issues and Suggestions Raised As the recommendation paper highlights, some plastic bags can be exempted from the plastic bag chargedue tohygiene and safety reasons. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. Singapores household recycling rate also pales in comparison to global standards. 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. More info on the policy, including the findings of a public survey of around 1,000 Singapore residents, can be found here. 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.. Several respondents noted that 5c was reasonable and a good start, in view of the rising cost of living and given that the charge would apply to all supermarket shoppers including the lower-income and elderly. Thats half of what you spend on bags in the supermarket! Auntie, can you give me one extra plastic bag?. Keeping the minimum charge low will help moderate the cost impact. 4. I would think that the big supermarkets should take the lead. All Cheers and FairPrice Xpress outlets will be including an additional charge of 10 cents for plastic bags. Therefore, replacing disposable plastic bags with paper or biodegradable plastic alternatives will not result in a better environmental outcome. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday called on office workers to throw sartorial caution to the wind and ditch their ties amid scorching summer temperatures. However, Zero Waste SG has addressed some of these arguments in their position paper. 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. We have a team of journalists dedicated to providing independent, well-researched stories from around the region on the topics that matter to you. Please have a look at it as it is super informative and interesting. In 2015, it was found that the amount of plastic waste generated in 2015 was 824,600 tonnes and only 7% was recycled. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore. Many objected to this plastic bag charge arguing that education alone is sufficient; this move will negatively impact the lower income residents in Singapore and thatSingaporeans require plastic bags to storetheir waste. In addition, supermarket operators here that had implemented rebates for customers who brought their own bags and spent a minimum amount per transaction, had discontinued the rebate scheme citing its limited effectiveness in reducing disposable carrier bag usage. But lets compare it to a reusable bag, which costs 90 cents but can be reused throughout the year. Tell us: how have you been affected by the 1947 partition of India? SINGAPORE - Consumers will likely have to pay between five and 10 cents for a disposable bag at supermarkets starting from the first half of next year. 12. A total of 4,621 responses were received. Between 2005 and 2015, it stagnated at 20% despite more than 15 years of the National Recycling Programme. A per-transaction charge could encourage overconsumption as it is a flat fee regardless of the number of bags used. Consider supporting our brand of purposeful journalism with a donation and keep Eco-Business free for all to read.