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Danny Lum
Posted on :- 01 Oct 2018 09:48PM (Updated: 01 Oct 2018 10:37PM)
Danny Lum
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
Danny Lum
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
Chua Lee Kheng
Stop disturbing the poor Singaporeans with plastic bags surcharge or there will be a big uproar.
Like · Reply · 2 · 1h
Li Ren Zeng
If serious about increasing garbage problems, tax all plastics and single use materials, best to tax them heavily so that people will switch to other alternatives. Singapore is easy to do that because all our goods are imported. When somethings are taxed heavily, it is also easy to give rebates for people who return them to collection centers for recycling.
I think the reason why there is a reluctance to charge for disposables like plastic bags because big stake holders have shares in delivery companies like Grab Food. If disposables become expensive, these are the companies that are going to suffer an instant hit. Personally I think individual food delivery should not even be encouraged in the first place because it also brings long term dis-benefits, especially laziness and reducing human interaction, which will generate other problems later.
I think the reason why there is a reluctance to charge for disposables like plastic bags because big stake holders have shares in delivery companies like Grab Food. If disposables become expensive, these are the companies that are going to suffer an instant hit. Personally I think individual food delivery should not even be encouraged in the first place because it also brings long term dis-benefits, especially laziness and reducing human interaction, which will generate other problems later.
Georgie Tan
Danny Lum
I suggest that when people start to throw waste around the bin area at HDB block, the smart talking MP must clean up instead of cleaner because the resident and the poor do not have money to buy plastic bag.
All this MP only talk and talk rubbish without seeing how HDB resident make used of the plastic bag. Currently our HDB rubbish chute area is very clean unless these MP do not walk around and do not know what is going on. To be honest how many residents really see MP walking around? If they do, you will see so many ants follow.
I suggest that when people start to throw waste around the bin area at HDB block, the smart talking MP must clean up instead of cleaner because the resident and the poor do not have money to buy plastic bag.
All this MP only talk and talk rubbish without seeing how HDB resident make used of the plastic bag. Currently our HDB rubbish chute area is very clean unless these MP do not walk around and do not know what is going on. To be honest how many residents really see MP walking around? If they do, you will see so many ants follow.
Like · Reply · 3h
Danny Lum
(1) Most of the time, I agree with PAP policies.
(2) But for this one, I disagree with some MP's push to charge plastic bags - as it don't solve the problem - but are just "kicking the can down the road" - whereby household have to pick up the tab and impose unnecessary burden to the household.
(3) Luckily, the Minister, Minister-of-State for Environment buy our idea - that charging plastic bag - will not solve the plastic problem - and in fact cause pollution in the rubbish chute - when residents will simply throw their waste down the chute without wrapping them in plastics.
(2) But for this one, I disagree with some MP's push to charge plastic bags - as it don't solve the problem - but are just "kicking the can down the road" - whereby household have to pick up the tab and impose unnecessary burden to the household.
(3) Luckily, the Minister, Minister-of-State for Environment buy our idea - that charging plastic bag - will not solve the plastic problem - and in fact cause pollution in the rubbish chute - when residents will simply throw their waste down the chute without wrapping them in plastics.
Like · Reply · 1m
Christopher Liew
This is a major issue in most Asian countries where plastic bags are being distributed wholeheartedly without a second thought. We have become so used to being given plastic bags for free that we're taking them for granted and willfully disposing of them irresponsibly because they are so plentiful. 1 shopping trip can require 5 or 6 plastic bags which we then collect in our homes and accumulate for ages. Even a trip to the hawker center might return with 3 or 4 individual plastic bags, some of which might not be reused. Going to the supermarket and people request to double bag their groceries for fear of breakage and separate the dry and wet foods.
Is it really so difficult to carry our own waterproof, reusable shopping bags when buying groceries or food? It's all a matter of changing our habits rather than becoming entitled to receiving handouts all the time. I'm totally fine with being charged for plastic if it'll force us to change our habits and become more aware of our impact on the environment.
Is it really so difficult to carry our own waterproof, reusable shopping bags when buying groceries or food? It's all a matter of changing our habits rather than becoming entitled to receiving handouts all the time. I'm totally fine with being charged for plastic if it'll force us to change our habits and become more aware of our impact on the environment.
Danny Lum
(1) If you agree with the fact that town council will supply 100 refuse bags to each household for free - to wrap liquid food and solid food for disposal.
(2) And if you agree that town council should not raise town council fee and pass on the cost to each household.
(3) Then i will agree that we should use our own bags for shopping groceries.
(4) Now then what is the difference between having free plastic bag issue by supermarket and town council?
One is the cost bear by supermarket and one is the cost bear by town council? --- and yet don't solve the plastic problem?
(2) And if you agree that town council should not raise town council fee and pass on the cost to each household.
(3) Then i will agree that we should use our own bags for shopping groceries.
(4) Now then what is the difference between having free plastic bag issue by supermarket and town council?
One is the cost bear by supermarket and one is the cost bear by town council? --- and yet don't solve the plastic problem?
Like · Reply · 1m
Christopher Liew
Danny Lum I agree with 1 & 2. As for number 4 I believe that a significant amount of non-disposables could be cut down if people reduced the demand for it. After all, it is our home we're talking about and I don't want to see our streets, rivers and waterways littered with waste, whether it's plastic or organic. Therefore, a reduction in demand + proper education and added enforcement of littering laws is a must.
Danny Lum
Christopher Liew -
(4) Most Singaporeans like me - don't take out any plastic bags to beach, waterways, rivers or seas and litter them.
I am civics conscious and I don't litter nor will I break the law.
Thus plastic bags are not the problem - it is those people who litter create the problem by littering - whether with plastic bags or not.
(4) Most Singaporeans like me - don't take out any plastic bags to beach, waterways, rivers or seas and litter them.
I am civics conscious and I don't litter nor will I break the law.
Thus plastic bags are not the problem - it is those people who litter create the problem by littering - whether with plastic bags or not.
Paul Tan
Using the plastic bag is not the issue the issue is the disposal of the plastic bag. Why solution must always inflct pain on people? Plastic bags is the best for grocery shopping and without it we would need to buy less each time but make frequent drive to super market which is even more detrimental to the environment.
Tricia Lye
There are 2 sides to the coin. Moderation is the key. Some checkouts at hypermarts are the weakest link; they do not pack efficiently and waste plastic bags. It is important to care for our environment but not everyone can afford biogradable disposal bags for bagging refuse. The day when charging for all bags is imposed will be the start of an island wide infestation at rubbish collection points.
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