Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mp-louis-ng-proposes-charging-for-carrier-bags-parliament-10775844
(Updated: )
Ricky Lim
Member of Parliament Louis Ng has proposed that charging for single-use carrier bags - regardless of the material they are made of - be enforced and that the public sector reviews its waste generation practices, as he called on Singapore to take the lead in reducing plastic waste.
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REACH - Keep Plastic Bag free for shoppers
There is a need to keep plastic bag free for shoppers for the following reasons:-
(1) Plastic bags used as carrier for products bought in shops and supermarkets are of dual used.
Plastic bags are also used for liquid waste and solid waste for disposal.
This will help to keep liquid waster and solid waste from polluting the rubbish chute when they are properly tied and thrown down the rubbish chute - thus preventing manifestation of rodents, rats, crockroaches, lizard, ants etc.
(2) By charging consumers per plastic bags used will deter consumers from disposing off the liquid waste and solid waste at home using carefully wrapped plastic bags - causing environmental problem in housing estates and contribute to health problem as there will be infestation of pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, lizard, ants etc.
(3) Also it will unduly cause heavy burden to household having to pay money to buy disposable bags for liquid and solid waste - who are now using free plastic bags for such purpose. Imagine a household use at least 20 plastic bags per week or 80 plastic bag a month. If 10 cents are levy on a plastic bag - $8 will need to be paid by a household - and for a low income household - they are additional burden against the backdrop of higher and higher cost of living among the residents.
(4) It does not make sense to make residents to purchase disposable bags to dispose off liquid and solid waste - because they are already using free plastic bags to do so - why force residents pay for disposable plastic bags to keep rubbish and waste when they can get it free?
In fact, charging plastic bags for shoppers will impose undue burden to the already high cost of living to residents - and yet does not solve the plastic bag pollution.
(5) Lastly, charging plastic bag will impose a political cost - as it is seen as not solving the problem using the free plastic bag to dispose of liquid and solid waste - but merely using it as excuse to levy charges or forcing residents to pay for their own disposable bags to carry their products and the disposal of waste.
In other words - there are no solution to the plastic bag problem - but are merely charging residents - without solving the problem.
The residents who are hurt badly are those low-income earners, elderly, retrenched workers as well as middle income earners.
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REACH - Keep Plastic Bag free for shoppers
There is a need to keep plastic bag free for shoppers for the following reasons:-
(1) Plastic bags used as carrier for products bought in shops and supermarkets are of dual used.
Plastic bags are also used for liquid waste and solid waste for disposal.
This will help to keep liquid waster and solid waste from polluting the rubbish chute when they are properly tied and thrown down the rubbish chute - thus preventing manifestation of rodents, rats, crockroaches, lizard, ants etc.
(2) By charging consumers per plastic bags used will deter consumers from disposing off the liquid waste and solid waste at home using carefully wrapped plastic bags - causing environmental problem in housing estates and contribute to health problem as there will be infestation of pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, lizard, ants etc.
(3) Also it will unduly cause heavy burden to household having to pay money to buy disposable bags for liquid and solid waste - who are now using free plastic bags for such purpose. Imagine a household use at least 20 plastic bags per week or 80 plastic bag a month. If 10 cents are levy on a plastic bag - $8 will need to be paid by a household - and for a low income household - they are additional burden against the backdrop of higher and higher cost of living among the residents.
(4) It does not make sense to make residents to purchase disposable bags to dispose off liquid and solid waste - because they are already using free plastic bags to do so - why force residents pay for disposable plastic bags to keep rubbish and waste when they can get it free?
In fact, charging plastic bags for shoppers will impose undue burden to the already high cost of living to residents - and yet does not solve the plastic bag pollution.
(5) Lastly, charging plastic bag will impose a political cost - as it is seen as not solving the problem using the free plastic bag to dispose of liquid and solid waste - but merely using it as excuse to levy charges or forcing residents to pay for their own disposable bags to carry their products and the disposal of waste.
In other words - there are no solution to the plastic bag problem - but are merely charging residents - without solving the problem.
The residents who are hurt badly are those low-income earners, elderly, retrenched workers as well as middle income earners.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim
Dr Khor pointed out even as her ministry seeks to reduce plastic usage, it recognises that plastics have their uses.
"Substituting them with other materials may not be more environmentally friendly as some may perceive," she said. "Hence, our approach is to reduce excessive consumption of all types of packaging, including plastics used by businesses and individuals."
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It is a great relief that Dr Khor recoginse that plastic bags have their uses - as highlighted in the above posts - and will not levy charges - as they will impose undue burden to Singaporeans and residents - but yet not solving the disposal of rubbish and wet waste.
If one day the Government decide to levy charges on the use of plastic bags - then the Government must issue every household (include private household) 100 plastic bags per month free of charge for waste holding and disposal via the Town Council - to prevent outbreak of environmental hazard ---- when residents stop using free plastic bags to hold rubbish and wet waste - but simply throw them down the rubbish chute ---- and trigger a mass environmental outbreak of infestation of pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, lizard, ants etc.
"Substituting them with other materials may not be more environmentally friendly as some may perceive," she said. "Hence, our approach is to reduce excessive consumption of all types of packaging, including plastics used by businesses and individuals."
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It is a great relief that Dr Khor recoginse that plastic bags have their uses - as highlighted in the above posts - and will not levy charges - as they will impose undue burden to Singaporeans and residents - but yet not solving the disposal of rubbish and wet waste.
If one day the Government decide to levy charges on the use of plastic bags - then the Government must issue every household (include private household) 100 plastic bags per month free of charge for waste holding and disposal via the Town Council - to prevent outbreak of environmental hazard ---- when residents stop using free plastic bags to hold rubbish and wet waste - but simply throw them down the rubbish chute ---- and trigger a mass environmental outbreak of infestation of pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, lizard, ants etc.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Telobag Singapore
You can turn to our 100% cassava(tapioca) made grocery bag that is compostable and doesn't turn into microplastics that will pollute the soil, the fish that you eat and your drinking water. It decomposes together with your food wastes when disposed together. Do a part for our future generation 
:)
:)
Ricky Lim
Telobag Singapore - Are you giving it free to every household - 100 bags per month?
Now every household use free plastic bags as dual used - to hold liquid waste and rubbish.
I bet you are not suggesting Government levy charges for plastic bag by shoppers - to carry their products.
And then need to pay for your environmentally friendly plastic bag for waste disposal.
And then Singaporeans and residents - will have double whammy - pay plastic bags to buy goods and then pay your environmentally friendly plastic bag to dispose of liquid and solid waste? --- when now Singaporeans and residents got it all free?
Now every household use free plastic bags as dual used - to hold liquid waste and rubbish.
I bet you are not suggesting Government levy charges for plastic bag by shoppers - to carry their products.
And then need to pay for your environmentally friendly plastic bag for waste disposal.
And then Singaporeans and residents - will have double whammy - pay plastic bags to buy goods and then pay your environmentally friendly plastic bag to dispose of liquid and solid waste? --- when now Singaporeans and residents got it all free?
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim
Also plastic bag waste in Singapore are incinerated - not landfill that will pollute the soil and cause microplastic problem.
Study is also done on how the incineration of plastic can be recycled as petroleum - a source of renew energy for Singapore.
Study is also done on how the incineration of plastic can be recycled as petroleum - a source of renew energy for Singapore.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim
If plastic bags are charged by shoppers - there will be a possiblity of dampening the Economy - as people will pull back purchases - as it will be contingent on how many carriers that people carry into the supermarket or shops.
(1) Office workers who don't carry carriers when walk into a shop or supermarket will refrain from buying if they don't carry their carriers and if they are not willing to pay extra for plastic bags.
(2) People who go to supermarket or shops for groceries shopping - may carry only 1 or 2 carriers - and will buy goods up to 1 or 2 carriers - and will refused to buy more - if they exceed their carriers capacity.
All these will dampen shopping of products --- contributing to lower economic growth.
(1) Office workers who don't carry carriers when walk into a shop or supermarket will refrain from buying if they don't carry their carriers and if they are not willing to pay extra for plastic bags.
(2) People who go to supermarket or shops for groceries shopping - may carry only 1 or 2 carriers - and will buy goods up to 1 or 2 carriers - and will refused to buy more - if they exceed their carriers capacity.
All these will dampen shopping of products --- contributing to lower economic growth.
Patrick Choe
NTUC Fairprice plastic bags are just nice for bagging rubbish. They are not single-use plastic items. Please stop the use of bubble tea plastic cups instead.
Like · Reply · 1 · 33
Andrew Wang
Then, Louis Ng should provide each local household 100 disposable bags monthly using his income. Problem solved.
Like · Reply · 4m · Edited
Jm Chow
This Louis Ng MP is obviously completely IGNORANT ... on how plastic bags are always REUSED and RECYCLED as waste bin linners ..for the collection of household litters and waste... in 95% of HDB flats and condos households.....always burned later in government incinerators together with our household waste...NOT DUMPED to poison the environment.
Supermarket bags are NOT single-use carrier bags...repeat, NOT single use bags. they are recycled.
He is a typical, mentally-blind MP who lived in the elite bubble for too long...in his own deluded world.... with no sense of reality...with no knowledge of what is exactly happening outside.
He cannot see how we live our life, cannot see how we always recyle carrier bags from supermarket.
Obviously, MP Ng has not gone down to the ground ...to see for himself, ... how Bangladeshi workers remove the garbage from HDB rubbish chutes...to see how we dispose our waste...how we used plastic carrier bags (with Fairprise and Sheng Siong logs)...to bag all our rubbish.
If he had taken the trouble to visit any HDB homes, he would have seen ...how we used the carrier bags as linners for all our waste bins ...in the kitchen, in the toilet, in children studies, in the bedrooms, in the living room ...to collect litters and waste (we have to buy garbage bags, usually too large, if the supermarket carrier bags are insufficient.)
He lied...accusing us of being " a danger to the health of our ecosystems and to our own health."
He must show us...and produce concrete proof that... we poison our ecosystem and poison ourselves.
Failing to produce evidence to substantiate his accusasion... show that he LIED. Not only he lied, he acted in complete ignorance.
Such lying and lazy MPs are dangerous...they mess up our lives.
Do we need such useless and lying MPs ???
Supermarket bags are NOT single-use carrier bags...repeat, NOT single use bags. they are recycled.
He is a typical, mentally-blind MP who lived in the elite bubble for too long...in his own deluded world.... with no sense of reality...with no knowledge of what is exactly happening outside.
He cannot see how we live our life, cannot see how we always recyle carrier bags from supermarket.
Obviously, MP Ng has not gone down to the ground ...to see for himself, ... how Bangladeshi workers remove the garbage from HDB rubbish chutes...to see how we dispose our waste...how we used plastic carrier bags (with Fairprise and Sheng Siong logs)...to bag all our rubbish.
If he had taken the trouble to visit any HDB homes, he would have seen ...how we used the carrier bags as linners for all our waste bins ...in the kitchen, in the toilet, in children studies, in the bedrooms, in the living room ...to collect litters and waste (we have to buy garbage bags, usually too large, if the supermarket carrier bags are insufficient.)
He lied...accusing us of being " a danger to the health of our ecosystems and to our own health."
He must show us...and produce concrete proof that... we poison our ecosystem and poison ourselves.
Failing to produce evidence to substantiate his accusasion... show that he LIED. Not only he lied, he acted in complete ignorance.
Such lying and lazy MPs are dangerous...they mess up our lives.
Do we need such useless and lying MPs ???
Reply · 1m · Edited
Jm Chow
100 plastic bags is NOT enough.
My maid use...3 supermarket bags everday... as linner for the kitchen waste bin for wet and smelly rubbish ...the wet rubbish containing food waste and rubbish are disposed after each meal.
She use the plastic bags as linners for waste bins ..to collect litters and dry rubbish ...in the toilets, in the bedrooms, in the dinning area, in the living room, in the kids studies...in the play area outside my flat.... and she change the linners everymorning ....or more often, whenever the waste bins are full.
On the average, she used 400 plastic carrier bags a month.
MP Ng would have to supply us with sufficient waste bin linners, FOC ...to replace the ones we got free of charge (carrier bags) from the supermarkets.
My maid use...3 supermarket bags everday... as linner for the kitchen waste bin for wet and smelly rubbish ...the wet rubbish containing food waste and rubbish are disposed after each meal.
She use the plastic bags as linners for waste bins ..to collect litters and dry rubbish ...in the toilets, in the bedrooms, in the dinning area, in the living room, in the kids studies...in the play area outside my flat.... and she change the linners everymorning ....or more often, whenever the waste bins are full.
On the average, she used 400 plastic carrier bags a month.
MP Ng would have to supply us with sufficient waste bin linners, FOC ...to replace the ones we got free of charge (carrier bags) from the supermarkets.
Reply · 39m
Princess Angelswp
Start a tinkat culture like grandmas days. Everyone bring a tinkat then pay a deposit then return the tinkat or put coffee in milk tin lor renember the blue cross milk can hee...cute leh...
Tapao use banana leaves lir no plastic bag...use string to tie...i knew the past will come back to hsunt us. We thriw away traditiinal way of life...now we need to review what were useful then.
Tapao use banana leaves lir no plastic bag...use string to tie...i knew the past will come back to hsunt us. We thriw away traditiinal way of life...now we need to review what were useful then.
Princess Angelswp
Use a basket to put all items during marketing. Last time ah ma also no pkastic bags..use bewspaper, leaves, etc also survive long long
Tham Kah Shing
Yes, why let our police wear long pant? The weather is so hot, save cost, get all police to wear short, like my grandfather times,
Reply · 9h
Princess Angelswp
First tell suppliers to reduce plastic.put in bottle, tin can, vadket, etc type packaging. Remove plastic packaging completely lor. Test with few staple products see how...
Encourage people bring basket...nice design like lv lv haha....
Show basket at check out, get 5 percent discount on total items...good idea?
Bring tinkat, 30 cent off noodles etc...cos when they give a plastic bowl they charge 29 cent so we bring tinkat get 30 cents lor...
Encourage people bring basket...nice design like lv lv haha....
Show basket at check out, get 5 percent discount on total items...good idea?
Bring tinkat, 30 cent off noodles etc...cos when they give a plastic bowl they charge 29 cent so we bring tinkat get 30 cents lor...
Nigel Fosley Lew
To reduce the use of plastic bags, I would suggest that Amy Khor do the walk first to check on those foreigner workers at dormitory site first. So lky said that Singapore needs to hv 8 millions ppl. So how we going to solve this problem?
Yeo Boon
I find it difficult to believe the statistics that on average 13 bags are used per person each day. That is a lot when my family does not even use 13 bags per week. Whoever does the statistics should be question on how they derive at the number and dissappointed that the minister accepted the data.
Perhaps the statistics includes the usage by tourists and foreign workers but the total no of plastics is divided by the singapore population. Hmm
There is not enough explaination on how it has become a "public safety and environmental problem". As for the ecosystem perhaps the cause is self created as such waste are used for landfill both in mainland and off shore island reclaimation.
I urge the minister to look deeper into the actual primary cause so that a good solution can be implemented. My feel is that your team is not tackling the actual cause but just proposing short term hasty solutions that will lead ti long term bigger problems.
Also, comparing with other ministry the solution across the board have been to always increase cost or fine to the people. When ideas run dry just blame the users.
Perhaps the statistics includes the usage by tourists and foreign workers but the total no of plastics is divided by the singapore population. Hmm
There is not enough explaination on how it has become a "public safety and environmental problem". As for the ecosystem perhaps the cause is self created as such waste are used for landfill both in mainland and off shore island reclaimation.
I urge the minister to look deeper into the actual primary cause so that a good solution can be implemented. My feel is that your team is not tackling the actual cause but just proposing short term hasty solutions that will lead ti long term bigger problems.
Also, comparing with other ministry the solution across the board have been to always increase cost or fine to the people. When ideas run dry just blame the users.
Dennis Heath
Plastic bags are a huge menace to the environment in so many ways. I recently took part in a beach clean up at Changi Beach where a crowd of more than 100 people picked up literally tonnes of plastic waste and that's just from one day's haul on a small stretch of beach.
I grew up before the world became plastic obsessed and nobody was inconvenienced because of it. You just took your own bag to the shops. In Kenya, plastic shopping bags have been completely banned, and nobody died! If a third world country can show respect for the environment why can't we.
Of course if a complete ban was instituted here there would all kinds of wailing and complaints but after two weeks it would die down, as people discovered alternative ways of carrying stuff and disposing of litter without plastic. A month after the ban we would all have forgotten about plastic shopping bags and our country would be so much cleaner for it.
I grew up before the world became plastic obsessed and nobody was inconvenienced because of it. You just took your own bag to the shops. In Kenya, plastic shopping bags have been completely banned, and nobody died! If a third world country can show respect for the environment why can't we.
Of course if a complete ban was instituted here there would all kinds of wailing and complaints but after two weeks it would die down, as people discovered alternative ways of carrying stuff and disposing of litter without plastic. A month after the ban we would all have forgotten about plastic shopping bags and our country would be so much cleaner for it.
Ricky Lim
Then what do you used to hold the liquid waste and solid waste at home?
Do you not used plastic bag to hold them, wrap and properly tied them up before throwing them down the rubbish chute?
If plastic bag are not allowed - are you suggesting that people throw their liquid waste and solid waste down the rubbish chute raw - and pollute the rubbish chute causing infestation of pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, lizard, ants etc. = and outbreak of environmental health hazard in all the housing estate?
Also lower income and middle income are making noises of higher cost of living.
By forcing people to pay for carriers - isn't it imposing higher cost of living to people?
Do you not used plastic bag to hold them, wrap and properly tied them up before throwing them down the rubbish chute?
If plastic bag are not allowed - are you suggesting that people throw their liquid waste and solid waste down the rubbish chute raw - and pollute the rubbish chute causing infestation of pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, lizard, ants etc. = and outbreak of environmental health hazard in all the housing estate?
Also lower income and middle income are making noises of higher cost of living.
By forcing people to pay for carriers - isn't it imposing higher cost of living to people?
Like · Reply · 2m · Edited
Rainbow Cheung
Ricky Lim what kind of liquid waste are we talking about? In fact I do not have any liquid waste at all in my household because all liquid waste are dumped into thr sink. Solid waste are wrapped in any form of packaging materials like potatoe chips bag, toilet paper bag etc. All cans, plastic, paper and glass and recycle at the bin downstairs. In fact I'm always struggling to see how any one person need plastic bag if you take the time to think about your actions. I know plenty of people use newspaper origami to wrap their solid waste so it's enclosed so it can be thrown into the chute. Do some research and you'll be able to live this lifestyle too.
Reply · 5m
Ricky Lim
Rainbow Cheung - liquid waste, curry etc dump into the sink - and one day - you will have a choke sink. (I bet you have not dismantle your sink pipe yet to remove all the choke leftovers).
Are you living in a flat or high rise building - bring rubbish up and down - instead of not using rubbish chute?
And you say use newspaper?
I have been reading news online for decades - and have not bought any more newspaper.
If you look around - many people don't do what you are doing - and using plastic bags to hold rubbish whether liquid or solid waste is a norm.
I believe you don't cook liquid and dishes with alot of gravy? Do you used newspaper to wrap food with gravy with a newspaper (if you still used newspaper) - where majority of the people don't read newspaper but news online now?
You will be spilling alot of gravy with your so called wrapped newspaper - that doesn't make sense.
Also do you buy cooked foods such as mee noodle with soup using newspaper without using plastic bag?
Your argument make no sense.
Probably your everyday meal are angmo meal - always burger, potato chips - then no need plastic bag.
Surprisingly you support killing trees buying paper newspaer - you also not environmentally friendly what.
Are you living in a flat or high rise building - bring rubbish up and down - instead of not using rubbish chute?
And you say use newspaper?
I have been reading news online for decades - and have not bought any more newspaper.
If you look around - many people don't do what you are doing - and using plastic bags to hold rubbish whether liquid or solid waste is a norm.
I believe you don't cook liquid and dishes with alot of gravy? Do you used newspaper to wrap food with gravy with a newspaper (if you still used newspaper) - where majority of the people don't read newspaper but news online now?
You will be spilling alot of gravy with your so called wrapped newspaper - that doesn't make sense.
Also do you buy cooked foods such as mee noodle with soup using newspaper without using plastic bag?
Your argument make no sense.
Probably your everyday meal are angmo meal - always burger, potato chips - then no need plastic bag.
Surprisingly you support killing trees buying paper newspaer - you also not environmentally friendly what.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim
Rainbow Cheung - Probably you have not observed how the Town Council cleaners removed rubbish from the rubbish bin.
When all rubbish are bag into plastic bags - the cleaners will just pick up the plastic bag and placed in their big rubbish container.
If you wrap your soiled rubbish or solid waste in newspaper - and when thrown down the rubbish chute - the cleaners will have to spend a long time to pick up the scattered rubbish from the rubbish chute - and when the rubbish chute is soiled by liquid waste - very bad smell emerge and the cleaners will have to spend their time hosing the chute with water.
You are just incurring more time and conservancy charges - as more cleaners will need to be employed to clean up the mess.
Not to mention if the soiled liquid waste contaminate the rubbish chute shaft - that the cleaners cannot clean - causing pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, houseflies, ants, lizards etc to manifest.
When all rubbish are bag into plastic bags - the cleaners will just pick up the plastic bag and placed in their big rubbish container.
If you wrap your soiled rubbish or solid waste in newspaper - and when thrown down the rubbish chute - the cleaners will have to spend a long time to pick up the scattered rubbish from the rubbish chute - and when the rubbish chute is soiled by liquid waste - very bad smell emerge and the cleaners will have to spend their time hosing the chute with water.
You are just incurring more time and conservancy charges - as more cleaners will need to be employed to clean up the mess.
Not to mention if the soiled liquid waste contaminate the rubbish chute shaft - that the cleaners cannot clean - causing pests such as rodents, rats, cockroaches, houseflies, ants, lizards etc to manifest.
Like · Reply · 1m
Dennis Heath
Ricky Lim Most of my packaging materials; cans, paper and plastics go into the recycle bins. For my indoor waste baskets and bins I use biodegradable rubbish bags that you can buy very cheaply in a roll of 100 pieces. Other countries, including third world are living happily, problem free without plastic shopping bags. I can't think of a reason why we could not or should not. On a personal note, I don't want to be partly responsible for leaving my son with a trashed planet, choked with plastic waste, and the problem is already huge worldwide. Singapore has an opportunity to be an example to world in diminishing the problem rather than exacerbating it.
Jm Chow
Dennis Heath
You are a LIAR.
I visit Changi beach often.
While the beach is not completely litter free like most places in Singapore... it is NEVER strewn with " literally tonnes of plastic waste "
Singapore is known as a green and clean city, the cleanest city in South East Asia...not like Kenya.
I just came back from a quick trip to Changi beach. I checked with the cleaners...whose job is to pick up the litters on Changi beach...and to sweep clean the fallen leaves.…See More
You are a LIAR.
I visit Changi beach often.
While the beach is not completely litter free like most places in Singapore... it is NEVER strewn with " literally tonnes of plastic waste "
Singapore is known as a green and clean city, the cleanest city in South East Asia...not like Kenya.
I just came back from a quick trip to Changi beach. I checked with the cleaners...whose job is to pick up the litters on Changi beach...and to sweep clean the fallen leaves.…See More
Jm Chow
Dennis Heath
Check your words before you open your big mouth...and puke nonsense.
Is there any evidence to support your comment that WE, in Singapore are making the earth into a " trashed planet, choked with plastic waste,.." ?
You are completely ignorant of the fact that we in Singapore BURN all our waste with the plastic bags ( carrier bags supplied by super markets) in government operated incinerators. We don't dump our plastic bags as litters everywhere.
Tell me,...what is the difference between using plastic bags supplied by supermarket and using plastic bags (purchased) for use as liners... for our waste bins at home...as long as they are burned away in the end ?
In Hawaii, in Califonia, and in Arizona where I lived for many years...we used specially purchased large plastic bags for kitchen waste.
For other small dustbin in the house, we lined them with shopping bags (brown paper and plastic). These bags together with garbage are hauled away in huge rubbish trucks daily for disposal.
There is NO difference between Singapore and the USA, in the way we used carrier bags from Supermarket for collecton of our garbage waste.
The key point...is NOT to throw the plastic bags as litter everywhere. (in Singapore, we have strict littering laws to stop littering. Litterers are FINED)
In both Singapore and the USA...we make good use of the carrier bags from supermarket. Is this WRONG ?
Definitely, we are not making our earth into a " TRASHED PLANET CHOKED WITH PLASTIC BAGS." You puke fake info.
One advice:
Go... take you clever comment elsewhere, where hundreds of tons of plastic waste are found in the Sea...around England and India.
In Singapore ...our rivers and monsoon drains do not flow into the sea.... they are blocked off.. to create freshwater reservoirs for drinking water.
Any plastic materials are collected up stream and incinerated.
Check your words before you open your big mouth...and puke nonsense.
Is there any evidence to support your comment that WE, in Singapore are making the earth into a " trashed planet, choked with plastic waste,.." ?
You are completely ignorant of the fact that we in Singapore BURN all our waste with the plastic bags ( carrier bags supplied by super markets) in government operated incinerators. We don't dump our plastic bags as litters everywhere.
Tell me,...what is the difference between using plastic bags supplied by supermarket and using plastic bags (purchased) for use as liners... for our waste bins at home...as long as they are burned away in the end ?
In Hawaii, in Califonia, and in Arizona where I lived for many years...we used specially purchased large plastic bags for kitchen waste.
For other small dustbin in the house, we lined them with shopping bags (brown paper and plastic). These bags together with garbage are hauled away in huge rubbish trucks daily for disposal.
There is NO difference between Singapore and the USA, in the way we used carrier bags from Supermarket for collecton of our garbage waste.
The key point...is NOT to throw the plastic bags as litter everywhere. (in Singapore, we have strict littering laws to stop littering. Litterers are FINED)
In both Singapore and the USA...we make good use of the carrier bags from supermarket. Is this WRONG ?
Definitely, we are not making our earth into a " TRASHED PLANET CHOKED WITH PLASTIC BAGS." You puke fake info.
One advice:
Go... take you clever comment elsewhere, where hundreds of tons of plastic waste are found in the Sea...around England and India.
In Singapore ...our rivers and monsoon drains do not flow into the sea.... they are blocked off.. to create freshwater reservoirs for drinking water.
Any plastic materials are collected up stream and incinerated.
Like · Reply · 49m · Edited
Ricky Lim
Dennis Heath -
(1) Doesn't mean that Singapore is a developed Country and not a 3rd World Country - people can afford to pay for unnecessary expenses - as the cost of living in Singapore is one of the highest in the World.
As a foreign expatrite who have high income - you can afford to buy monthly disposable bag.
But many people here are struggling with their daily expenses (esp those who are retrenched, low income, retirees and others who are not so well off) - even an added expenses will cause unnecessary stress - bear in mind that utilities bill, transport cost, medishield bill, etc are all increasing.
This plastic bag from retailers are free - and you now want people to buy their own carriers and then buy disposable bags for their waste - will not go down well with the people - as you can see from this chorus of anger in this forum.
(2) It could be translated into political cost to the Government (in terms of losing votes) - for this unnecessary expenditure - as high cost of living is the current most pertinent issue that people are concern about.
(3) Plastic bags are mainly used for carrying goods and groceries - which then are for dual-used to wrap waste for disposal - and in Singapore - it is not landfill but incinerated.
In fact, study is underway to convert the waste plastic into reused petroleum --- so wonder how will this pollute the sea with microplastic?
(4) I agree with JM Chow that Singapore beaches are relatively clean - and not polluted with plastics - where I can see in East Coast and Labrador beaches - the beaches are relatively clean - of course much kudos to the cleaners.
(5) Using plastic bags are not the main cause of pollutants in sea.
It is the mindset of people - without public conscience by littering - that cause pollution.
Why cruxified the used of plastic bags?
Does it means that if people litter the beaches and sea with other litters like paper, electronic items ---- then you suggest banning paper and electronic items?
Public education, law etc will need to come in to educate and prevent people from littering.
(6) Lastly, if you are championing the use of bio-degradable plastic instead of the normal plastic - you should attempt to convince supermarket and retailers to use bio-degradable plastic and provide free to consumers like us - so that we can use it as carriers for goods and groceries and at the same time use it as disposable bags for waste.
Why are you and others who champion for penalising plastic bags - not go to the correct route to champion your cause - but instead penalise people by imposing unnecessary financial burden?
(1) Doesn't mean that Singapore is a developed Country and not a 3rd World Country - people can afford to pay for unnecessary expenses - as the cost of living in Singapore is one of the highest in the World.
As a foreign expatrite who have high income - you can afford to buy monthly disposable bag.
But many people here are struggling with their daily expenses (esp those who are retrenched, low income, retirees and others who are not so well off) - even an added expenses will cause unnecessary stress - bear in mind that utilities bill, transport cost, medishield bill, etc are all increasing.
This plastic bag from retailers are free - and you now want people to buy their own carriers and then buy disposable bags for their waste - will not go down well with the people - as you can see from this chorus of anger in this forum.
(2) It could be translated into political cost to the Government (in terms of losing votes) - for this unnecessary expenditure - as high cost of living is the current most pertinent issue that people are concern about.
(3) Plastic bags are mainly used for carrying goods and groceries - which then are for dual-used to wrap waste for disposal - and in Singapore - it is not landfill but incinerated.
In fact, study is underway to convert the waste plastic into reused petroleum --- so wonder how will this pollute the sea with microplastic?
(4) I agree with JM Chow that Singapore beaches are relatively clean - and not polluted with plastics - where I can see in East Coast and Labrador beaches - the beaches are relatively clean - of course much kudos to the cleaners.
(5) Using plastic bags are not the main cause of pollutants in sea.
It is the mindset of people - without public conscience by littering - that cause pollution.
Why cruxified the used of plastic bags?
Does it means that if people litter the beaches and sea with other litters like paper, electronic items ---- then you suggest banning paper and electronic items?
Public education, law etc will need to come in to educate and prevent people from littering.
(6) Lastly, if you are championing the use of bio-degradable plastic instead of the normal plastic - you should attempt to convince supermarket and retailers to use bio-degradable plastic and provide free to consumers like us - so that we can use it as carriers for goods and groceries and at the same time use it as disposable bags for waste.
Why are you and others who champion for penalising plastic bags - not go to the correct route to champion your cause - but instead penalise people by imposing unnecessary financial burden?
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim
Dennis Heath - So all the more creative ideas should be ponder to solve social problem - rather than letting Singaporeans keep absorbing the cost.
We will have to keep coming out with good ideas not to let the people suffer financial burden while creatively solve any social, economic, political and security problem.
Passing the buck to the people - is always an easy way out - but it will create unnecessary tension and friction among the people - when they are always the receiving end.
Push the biodegradable bags to supermarket and retail store to replace plastic bag - if there is a strong cause and not let Singaporeans suffer the consequences
I guess there are reasons why biodegradable bags are not adopted by supermakets or retail stores :-
(1) high cost could be the main reason
(2) not as environmentally friendly - for eg. someone say tapioca bag - wonder how many acres of land need to set aside to grow tapioca to produce the millions and billions of bags
(3) the environmental bags may not be durable - and may break easily
But if you ever come across cheap, truly environmentally friendly and durable bags - why not try selling to the supermarkets and retail stores for adoption.
People still can get it free and still meet your objectives of preventing microplastics - though currently, incineration has mitigate such effects.
We will have to keep coming out with good ideas not to let the people suffer financial burden while creatively solve any social, economic, political and security problem.
Passing the buck to the people - is always an easy way out - but it will create unnecessary tension and friction among the people - when they are always the receiving end.
Push the biodegradable bags to supermarket and retail store to replace plastic bag - if there is a strong cause and not let Singaporeans suffer the consequences
I guess there are reasons why biodegradable bags are not adopted by supermakets or retail stores :-
(1) high cost could be the main reason
(2) not as environmentally friendly - for eg. someone say tapioca bag - wonder how many acres of land need to set aside to grow tapioca to produce the millions and billions of bags
(3) the environmental bags may not be durable - and may break easily
But if you ever come across cheap, truly environmentally friendly and durable bags - why not try selling to the supermarkets and retail stores for adoption.
People still can get it free and still meet your objectives of preventing microplastics - though currently, incineration has mitigate such effects.
Brian Soh
Another way to monetize the situation?
Mr. Louis Ng, before you propose to scrap away the plastic bag or throwaway culture, can you propose to build better infrastructure as well as constant & consistent education to the people for such matter?
Have a holistic plan and proposal instead of piecemeal, halfbaked solution.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Louis Ng, before you propose to scrap away the plastic bag or throwaway culture, can you propose to build better infrastructure as well as constant & consistent education to the people for such matter?
Have a holistic plan and proposal instead of piecemeal, halfbaked solution.
Thank you very much.
Weng Cheong Lee
Please do not implement something that is not workable for the sake of scoring points for your MP position. When we do not have plastic bags to bag our rubbish, do you want people to pour their food leftovers and spills into the refuse chute,making the refuse system more foul and cleaning and then increase our conservancy charges again? Please go to the ground and assess for yourself how the environmental impact has caused by other issues eg stationary vehicles with engines running.
Edward Seng
Should start it with Hawker ctr stop using paper/plastic cup and paper plate.
I observe many of time, all these paper/plastic cup/plate dropping on floor from the table due to strong wind or fan blow it off resulting the floor was so untidy and dirty.
I observe many of time, all these paper/plastic cup/plate dropping on floor from the table due to strong wind or fan blow it off resulting the floor was so untidy and dirty.
Like · Reply · 44m
Ee Lee Tay
Good job ... cannot give us plastic bags because it is bad for the environment but they can sell it to us ... Than when we don't have trash bags than we go buy trash bags only to throw it away ... some people will start throwing their trash directly into the central bins creating a health hazard. Dirty corridors and even dirtier rubbish chute. When that happens, TC will install cameras to monitor the rubbish chutes and start handing out fines ... everything means higher cost of living with little to no better quality of life.
Like · Reply · 21m
Tan Wee Tong
This is singapore. What ever need to control the government is using money to do it. Control smoking, increase the price, fine them, control traffic, increase erp timing and cost and fuel price. Use less water or electricity, increase price, everything is using money to control. I think no need an very educated person and pay them high if this is the was to control.
Like · Reply · 34m
Inez Alsagoff
Ricky Lim This is a habit we can cultivate in Singapore. There is currently little to no habit of Singaporeans carrying around reusable bags or reused plastic bags in their bags- which is something that can so easily be solved. In the UK, a 10p plastic bag charge is imposed, all of my friends studying in the UK carry 1 or 2 plastic/resuable bags in their bags. It is a small change one needs to make in their lifestyle in order to reduce plastic wastage. We cannot go as far as to say economic growth will be lowered if all of us, as a nation, are willing to do what we can for the environment
Like · Reply · 9h
Ricky Lim
Inez Alsagoff - For your 1st posting - please read the comprehensive posts that i have written here plus many others who have write extensively that will address your points.
The economic challenges, social challenges, political challenges and environmental challenges that impacted Singaporeans and residents are very great and different in the Singapore context.
Your solution cannot be 1 size fit all - and don't really fit solve the challenges that Singapore face - if you charge plastic bags or banned it all.
I don't intend to rewrite everything i have wrote. Pse go through all the comments written in this forum.
The economic challenges, social challenges, political challenges and environmental challenges that impacted Singaporeans and residents are very great and different in the Singapore context.
Your solution cannot be 1 size fit all - and don't really fit solve the challenges that Singapore face - if you charge plastic bags or banned it all.
I don't intend to rewrite everything i have wrote. Pse go through all the comments written in this forum.
Inez Alsagoff
Ricky Lim The one problem with plastics is that yes, they get thrown into oceans or terrestrial ecosystems and degrade into microplastics which destroy the ecosystem. But another MAJOR issue that many do not realise is the amount of energy cost used in the production, manufacturing, transporting, etc. just to make a plastic bag. The main goal of reducing plastic bags is to reduce an entire production line of wasteful energy and its byproducts.
Like · Reply · 9h
Ricky Lim
Inez Alsagoff - As for your 2nd posting - it does not make sense to pin the blame and single out the manufacture of plastic bag as high cost of production and is a wastage.
Plastic bags exist for 2 purposes - as carriers for goods and dual-used as disposable of liquid and solid waste.
If you blame environmental problem of plastic bags - why are you not blaming many other pollutants that human have produced?
(1) electronic waste - are you suggesting stopping production of smart phone, computers, smart TVs, fridges etc?
(2) meat production - where 10 times the land are required to grow crops to feed the cow, sheeps, pigs etc that pollute the environment. Are you suggesting humans stop eating meat?
(3) over fishing - that reduces the fish crops - are you suggesting human stop eating fish?
(4) using of fossil fuel, coals etc - that cause pollution of atmosphere - are you suggesting human stop using these energy sources?
(5) burning down lands to plant padi, palm oil, wheat, vegetables cultivation - are you suggesting human stop eating rice, bread, vegetables?
etc
What you say in the 2nd posting don't make sense - when you specifically "crucified" plastic bags - when you don't penalised others --- that will cause the whole Global Economy to stop functioning and human to stop feeding themselves.
Plastic bags exist for 2 purposes - as carriers for goods and dual-used as disposable of liquid and solid waste.
If you blame environmental problem of plastic bags - why are you not blaming many other pollutants that human have produced?
(1) electronic waste - are you suggesting stopping production of smart phone, computers, smart TVs, fridges etc?
(2) meat production - where 10 times the land are required to grow crops to feed the cow, sheeps, pigs etc that pollute the environment. Are you suggesting humans stop eating meat?
(3) over fishing - that reduces the fish crops - are you suggesting human stop eating fish?
(4) using of fossil fuel, coals etc - that cause pollution of atmosphere - are you suggesting human stop using these energy sources?
(5) burning down lands to plant padi, palm oil, wheat, vegetables cultivation - are you suggesting human stop eating rice, bread, vegetables?
etc
What you say in the 2nd posting don't make sense - when you specifically "crucified" plastic bags - when you don't penalised others --- that will cause the whole Global Economy to stop functioning and human to stop feeding themselves.
Like · Reply · 1m
Andrew Wang
Ricky Lim IA's comments are stereotypes of other "against usage of plastic bags". I have 1 question to ask him: did he clear off any rubbish at work, at home at all ? What type of material is used for the bags ?
All this comments are just copycats of what other countries in angmoh regions do. No brain of their own. No adaptability of what suits singapore and what materials used to contain rubbish and help keep our environment clean. Just cut and paste whenever this plastic bags appear in the news.
All this comments are just copycats of what other countries in angmoh regions do. No brain of their own. No adaptability of what suits singapore and what materials used to contain rubbish and help keep our environment clean. Just cut and paste whenever this plastic bags appear in the news.
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