REACH 214 - Views on charging disposable bags at supermarket (SK)
12 Apr 2021 (11am - 7pm)
REACH
[10:51 am, 12/04/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,
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[10:58 am, 12/04/2021] +REACH: �� Topic ��
Consumers may be charged for disposable carrier bags at supermarkets, said
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor on
Saturday (April 10). The charging model, which is being worked on, was proposed
by a citizens’ workgroup in reducing the use of disposables.
�� What are your views on
charging for disposable carrier bags at supermarkets?
Dr Khor said the MSE and NEA will start public consultations to develop the
charging model for such bags, and will consult supermarkets and members of the
public on the mode of charging, whether it is per bag or per transaction.
She noted the timeframe needed to implement the charge will be considered,
as the industry would need time to adjust to this. She added there might be a
need for legislative amendments.
Details of the carrier bag charge will be finalised after the public
consultations.
Dr Khor stressed that charging for carrier bags is not a silver bullet in
tackling the excessive use of disposables.
She said: "Even if it's a token mandatory charge of disposable carrier
bags at the supermarket, it will serve as a very useful, important reminder to
the shopper to take and use the bags mindfully."
�� Citizens' Workgroup on Reducing
Excessive Consumption of Disposables - Recommendations and Responses: https://www.cgs.gov.sg/citizensworkgroup/reports
------
[11:11 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: will ppl start to throw things without
putting into plastic bags?
[11:11 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: this will cause problems when ppl sort thru
the rubbish to recycle things right?
[11:12 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: will the poor, be even poorer; when need to
buy plastic to throw things into the rubbish chut
[11:14 am, 12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: I think will need to do this thing
holistically. Do you know how much plastic is used for products we buy? Lol
[11:15 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Aiyoh , why everything is charge charge
charge $$$$
[11:15 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Only enrich the shops and owners
[11:16 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Do they give discounts or lower prices now
that pple use their own bags
[11:16 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Same with the removable go disposable
straws
[11:16 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Prices still same
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Just remove the plastic bags and don’t
offer it even if pple pay
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: If the products themselves use so much
plastic, it's pointless to just charge us for plastic bags.
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Sell only the permenanr bags
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: ��
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Well said
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: The masks already beat plastic bags many
times Liao
[11:17 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Lolololo
[11:18 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: "She noted the timeframe needed to
implement the charge will be considered, as the industry would need time to
adjust to this. She added there might be a need for legislative amendments.
"
If people/customers need time to adjust
[11:18 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: *It's
[11:18 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Why this need even to be legislative
[11:18 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: lol. so can ban selling disposable mask
[11:18 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: ?
[11:19 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Pardon me ah but I feel gahmen like keep
focusing on the ikan bilis Stuff and solutions all like coming from the same
mould
[11:19 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Sell reusable mask only ��
[11:19 am, 12/04/2021] +Leonard Lau: The idea is to reduce and not
eliminate plastic bags . Until a
better and greener packaging technology is available , it is difficult to
change habits .
[11:20 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: I dunno whether the charging method is
effective leh. Plus seems more like enriching companies .....
[11:20 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: ��
[11:21 am, 12/04/2021] +jimmy chew: haha.. yeah, we are a fine/charge
country. $$$ talks. I choose to bring my own bags, on the other hand, on the
other hand, didn't realize that I have to pay to get plastic bags to dispose of
my food waste. It would be a real problem for household who live from pocket to
mouth.
[11:21 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: some shop says the extra charges goto WWE
[11:21 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Like the disposable straws thing also no
need legislation
[11:21 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: or some green company
[11:21 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: this straw thing became many people order
drinks with ice request
[11:22 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: more problems for those who work in the
business line
[11:22 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: I realise no straw made drinking for kids
an experience in spillage ��
[11:23 am, 12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: This good leh, they give ice means give u
less of drink . Karching $$$$
[11:37 am, 12/04/2021] +Franco: Wats the objective of making people pay for
plastic bags? To go green? Tat will be great, if all works together to achieve
the goal. But in reality, Supermarket owners use this charge to increase their
profits! Tat will defeat the purpose! Why do I say that? Just take a look at
China for example. China has been practicing this "want plastic bag, pay
for it" for quite a few years. In
the end, the money collected from the sale of plastic bags, becomes part of the
income of the supermarket, rather than donating the money to organizations
working for a greener environment.
[11:39 am, 12/04/2021] +jimmy chew: I think encouraging better that charge,
legislation even worse bad name for government. I think everyone is making a
point not to take plastic bags. At least me and my friends. Good to find ways
to encourage conservation.
[11:39 am, 12/04/2021] +Rama: i believe this charge will go for
environmental causes.
[11:40 am, 12/04/2021] +richard Wong: If I remembered correctly , it was
NEA who imposed the use of disposal at our Hawker centres many many years ago
!!!! Why can’t NEA now disallow the use of disposal ? Imagine eating western
food and roti prata with plastic fork, spoons , knife , plate and bowl !!!!!!
[11:41 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: but now COVID
[11:41 am, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: so cannot use customer's container
[11:41 am, 12/04/2021] +jimmy chew: Oh I didn't know that. I heard from a
stall owner that the cleaners being lazy of washing threw away their metal
forks and spoons. We don't know the indention of people hahaha
[11:44 am, 12/04/2021] +CQ: yes, that's correct. previously like when you
buy stuff like food and meat, it was wrapped in paper or what, but it was
deemed unhygienic. so there was a directive to use plastic cos it's cleaner.
and also people used to just throw stuff down the rubbish chute. so they said
"have to bag it up in plastic, tie it securely, then throw".
[11:47 am, 12/04/2021] +CQ: so now after everything is wrapped in plastic
and all, to say "say no to plastic bag or we'll charge" sounds like a
feeble attempt to increase revenue by charging for the bags used by the mart
and to force people to buy the "proper" rubbish bags, which we would
otherwise have reused the ones we got from NTUC
[11:47 am, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Single carrier
plastic bags can be of dual used - to
be used as refuse bags to bag home waste.
[11:48 am,
12/04/2021] +Rama: The buck is always passed on to the end user irregardless of
policy screw up.
[11:48 am,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
With the Government
toying with charging money per plastic bags in supermarket, I will like to
highlight the following :-
1. 3 options to
solve the problem of reduction in usage of single plastic and bagging refuse
and waste at home :-
a. 7 plastic bag free
(1 plastic per day - to bag refuse) per shopping in supermarket - above 7
plastic bag - levy charge. Or;
b. Town council
issue free plastic bag per week or per month to residents - to bag their refuse
or waste (to HDB and private housing).
c. Government
provide "Refuse Voucher (like GST Voucher" calculated as per the
below formula :-
- 365 days x 2 waste
basket per house x 0.20 cents per refuse bag = $146 or to round up $150 per
year (to be given to every household - HDB and private housing).
2. This is to ensure
that we don't solve one problem (less plastic problem) - but throw another
problem at the people (no plastic to bag waste and refuse) - causing hygiene
problem ----- without offering compensating solutions.
3. Without providing
the above either of the 3 solution options, it will result in the following
consequences :-
a. Impact to low and
middle income household - who needs to dish out additional money to buy refuse
bag (noting GST impending increase, public transport price increase, and
pandemic trigger difficulties to household).
b. People may change
their attitude towards bagging refuse eg. they may throw liquid waste or solid
waste down the rubbish chute without bagging them - as they have no plastic
bags to bag the waste. The consequences on hygiene will be dire :-
- rats, mosquitoes,
cockroaches, ants, lizards, pigeons, birds etc and viruses, bacterias will grow
- as people throw their refuse without bagging them.
c. High rise blocks
rubbish chute will stink - and workers clearing the rubbish chutes will have a
hard time. (Notice in chute when someone throw curry down without bagging them
- the stench is unbearable --- and workers have to spray strong dose of water
to clean up the curry mess).
Imagine this is
multiply many times in every high-rise blocks ----- what will be the hygiene
consequences islandwide?
[11:50 am,
12/04/2021] +jimmy chew: Government need to govern, China is a new giant, so
used to intimidating their citizen, we should grow out of that method, we're 55
years old as a country, unless applies to criminal . We can make people do
things with a gun, that's what LKY says, under the Japs. I think the government
with smart brains should be able to come out with innovative solutions, rather
than fine/charge it's the lazy way of getting things done.
[11:50 am,
12/04/2021] +Rama: 1c for me.
[11:51 am,
12/04/2021] +Rama: add 1b.
[11:54 am,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: can change from plastic bag to paper bags?
[11:56 am,
12/04/2021] +Elena Woo: Ya agree. And supermarkets when bagging the items, they
can dun categorise the few items in 1 bag, so fewer bags will be used.
[11:56 am,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Assuming there
are 1.5 million households X $150 per household per year of refuse vouchers -
it will cost the government $225 million every year.
2. Money collected
by supermarkets for plastic bags charge should be tax its entirety and transfer
to the government.
3. This will help
the government to cushion the $225 million refuse vouchers every year.
[11:58 am,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Make plastic bags that are biodegradable and get
supermarkets to use them. Wouldn’t this be a good solution?
[11:58 am,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
If change to paper
bag - means kill more trees.
And if used to bag
liquid waste, it will leak - and the stench in rubbish chute - will pose
hygiene problem island wide.
[11:59 am,
12/04/2021] +Angelica: I think charging does help in reducing plastic bag use.
Because often, not all the plastic bags taken will be used for trash. Usually
there would be a surplus.
Maybe charging for
disposable carrier bags at other places such as convenience stalls, and shops
makes more sense because sometimes the purchases are small but people still
need plastic bag. And these bags might be too small to be reused as trash bags.
Shopping bags also seldom would be reused as trash bags.
[0:00 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: already gst gonna go up from 7% to 9%, then now still
wanna charge for plastic bags. Then G
should push the FT university prof/researchers, featured on TV, to faster
develop the eco friendly plastic bags
[0:01 pm,
12/04/2021] +Angelica: Currently NTUC charges 20 cents for plastic bag use in
general. I think it’s useful for deterring people who might only be
buying a few items to not take the plastic bags. there may be instances where
people shop outside of their weekly grocery trip and might not need the plastic
bags.
curbing the supply
of plastic bags may also force us to be more mindful of our waste and the way
we dispose things.
perhaps our disposal
system and habits need some improvements too so we rely less on plastic bags
[0:03 pm,
12/04/2021] +Elena Woo: Those are small businesses, and doing so may affect
their businesses.
[0:03 pm,
12/04/2021] +Elena Woo: Actually i think it is more on recycling of plastic
bags and bottles. Other countries are converting plastic to fabrics etc.
[0:06 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: I think for reducing use of single use plastic need to
make holistic effort, just charging for plastic bag won't change much.
[0:06 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: yup, fabric for clothes and shoes
[0:07 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: https://rothys.com/
[0:11 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-sneakers-plastic-bottles-ocean-waste-recycle-pollution-2019-8
[0:24 pm,
12/04/2021] +Caleb: I hope ICA can have a option for lesser number of pages for
our passport too! save paper
[0:25 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/job-vacancies-report-2020-4-in-10-jobs-remote-wfh-14579762
Alerts! 4 in 10 jobs
can be work remotely ---- for those who insist on working at home.
That means,
foreigners can take this 4 jobs.
[0:25 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. 29/03/2021 If all work at home, that means boss can
engage and outsource to foreign workers who can demand much lesser salary who
are working overseas at home to do Singaporean work.
CNA (4Apr2021) 4 in
10 jobs can be done remotely at home :- MOM report. Minister Josephine Teo to track such trend and to respone to help
local workers.
[0:28 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
So never
underestimate - how a boss think and what he will do!
Now statistics tell
what a boss can do.
[0:34 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: Then our G need to protect us and our economy. Need to
have new laws and guidelines. Not let foreign companies open companies in SG to
draw money out of our economy. Increase ratio of local staff to foreign staff,
not just headcount but salary too.
[0:35 pm,
12/04/2021] +Dan: I suggests that we use a vending machine to dispense bags for
all customers. We have large, med, small plastic bags and recycling bags to
cater to different needs.
The inconvenience of
getting the bags will make consumers switch to recycling bags.
Vending machines
from nonprofit organisation will also disperse assumption that supermarkets are
using this to profit and monies can be collected for other environmental
causes.
[0:35 pm, 12/04/2021]
+Dan: *suggest
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Not helpful really. It just adds to the shopping bill for
either Rubbish Bags that we will now have to buy, or carrier bags because we
don't walk around with resuable shopping bags when coming home from work. If
they want to reduce harmful plastic waste then why not mandate the
biodegradable bags that companies like Redmart use?
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Yes
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Correct, because all is does is validate the use of plastic.
"I'm paying for it so I don't feel guilty about using it"
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Yes, because this 'might' change habits a bit.
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Also, why not mandate paper bags. I remember shops in the US
always provided thick paper bags which were not 100% degradeable.
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: It already is available. Also, what did everyone do before
plastic bags were invented? There was plenty of shopping then :)
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Will Gov mandate an end to the enormous amount of plastic
used at the Hawkers and other F&B?
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Also, can Gov end the use of small sachets of condiments,
especially at F&B ? Terrible amount of plastic thrown away for no reason.
[0:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Correct; and if the bags are biodegradable then 2 problems
solved in 1!
[0:39 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: agree
[0:39 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Most paper not made from trees anymore
[0:40 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Yay!
[0:42 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: Can plastic bags be made from recycled plastics? If
so, what are we doing not enough to make this happen to avoid the current topic.
[0:48 pm,
12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Yah use those natural fibre type of bags
. Made from hemp or
jute etc
[0:48 pm,
12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Nice feel and confirm natural
[0:48 pm,
12/04/2021] +Fulgrim: Quite lasting and hardly also
[0:59 pm,
12/04/2021] +Jess Sunga: Many have started charging like 20cents for a bags.
Its actually good to charge per transaction. It change my attitude about it,
now I always bring my own foldable bags everytime I go out for shopping.
For me, I suggest a
"no plastic" bag be implemented, and use only paper bag. Charge for
every bag issued to customer like 20cents and if customer bring their own bag,
give less 20cents from their bill. �� That would be nice.
[1:01 pm, 12/04/2021] +Leonard Lau: If one most
probably noticed in most supermarkets ,
Shopper
requested for plastic bags . I seen many groceries shoppers ended up
many plastic bags .
I may not have overall statistics but it seems
this policy may be tackling these people’s behaviour .
[1:03 pm, 12/04/2021] +Elena Woo: If not using
sachets, then comes the question of hygiene in food.
[1:03 pm, 12/04/2021] +Elena Woo: Esp in pandemic
[1:04 pm, 12/04/2021] +YT: Is plastic bags the sole
focus of our environment efforts? How about educating the public on saving
electricity? Buy only what you need? Educating restaurants and food stores on
the wastage of food? Encouraging more to use public transport?
[1:07 pm, 12/04/2021] +Ben: What happens in
supermarkets when shopping is packed by cashier? Will people say they want less
bags, and risk them breaking or tearing on the way home? What happens if I pay
for a bag and it breaks, do I claim from the supermarket that my goods were
damaged because the bag they sold me isn't fit for purpose?
[1:08 pm, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Then how to bag
refuse and liquid waste at home?
Expect people to buy
plastic refuse bags?
[1:08 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: This policy appears to be following the mentality of other
countries without improving the solution if reducing waste.
[1:10 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Charging for plastic bags won’t change public perception of using single use plastics. If you want to
legislate, make it so that only biodegradable plastic bags are allowed in
Singapore. That will be better than simply just “fine” people for using single use plastic bags.
[1:10 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Anyway single use isn’t really single use as most of us use it to dispose of our rubbish.
[1:10 pm,
12/04/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Bio bag takes years to decompose also
[1:11 pm, 12/04/2021]
+Kevinn Wang: If wanna be earth friendly should ban styrofoam these are
poisonous and takes longer den p. Bags to decompose if not wrong
[1:12 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Years is better than Centuries!
[1:13 pm,
12/04/2021] +Caleb: +1
[1:13 pm, 12/04/2021]
+Boon: ����
[1:13 pm, 12/04/2021] +Ben:
https://www.telobag.sg/ 180 days to
decompose. Singapore manufacturer.
[1:13 pm, 12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Nope. Plastic
bags don’t degrade per se. they become micro plastic that become toxic after
that.
[1:14 pm, 12/04/2021] +65 9010 3381: The most of
the plastic will be incinerated in Singapore. Just bin it probably.
[1:14 pm, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
So it end up:-
1. People buy bags
to carry groceries.
2. People buy refuse
bags to bag home refuse and liquid waste.
When now everyone
got it free.
[1:14 pm,
12/04/2021] +Boon: +1
[1:15 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Maybe we should support our local eco-friendly manufacturers
and be a world leader in the field.
[1:16 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: Didn't we just create a $100bn fund to develop this type of
tech? Or are we spending it all to protect ourselves from the climate change we
are helping to create?
[1:18 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Then have anyone
consider those households who are struggling to live?
Taking into account
:-
1. Impending gst
increase.
2. Public transport
increase.
3. Pandemic trigger
difficulties?
[1:18 pm,
12/04/2021] +Leonard Lau: The fund is for infrastructure
[1:18 pm,
12/04/2021] +Poh S Lim: This “Telobag” sounds like an eco friendly substitute for plastic bags produced from
fossil fuel. Worth taking a look at it.
[1:21 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: ��
[1:22 pm, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
I have no issue with
those households who are still doing well despite the pandemic.
But I have come
across households who are struggling with income cut, and some who have no
jobs.
Have anyone take
into account these households?
[1:26 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: Good reminder. G say will not leave anyone one behind.
[1:26 pm,
12/04/2021] +Stella Yip: Anyone behind
[1:31 pm,
12/04/2021] +Timothy Low: Perhaps the first plastic bag is free. Subsequently
ones will have to be charged. And reward those who bring recycled bags.
Yesterday I went
Sheng siong and the cashier was complaining to me that the previous customers
requested for 20 plastic bags
[1:36 pm,
12/04/2021] +jimmy chew: Start educating the
children..the next generation of dwellers. Kids influence parents and
influence grandparents
[1:36 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
That's mean instead
of doing weekly groceries shopping, one will have to go shopping every day.
Because one plastic
bag can only hold one day waste - and needs to be disposed within the end of
the day as it will :-
1. Fill up
2. Liquid waste will
invite ants, mosquito, rats, lizards, cockroaches, virus, bacteria - and it
will emit strong unbearable stench if left overnight.
3. Minimally, every
household will need at least 1 or 2 plastic bags per day.
[1:37 pm,
12/04/2021] +jimmy chew: The should collect Data who don't take and who takes
more than necessary.
[1:46 pm,
12/04/2021] +Timothy Low: Not too sure who is willing to bear the cost and is
it cost effective to do so or not
[1:47 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Agree
[1:47 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Legislate this and even if you charge for plastic bag
we won’t make noise
[1:48 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: you have a point here
[1:49 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: food for thought
[1:49 pm,
12/04/2021] +Ben: ��
[1:49 pm, 12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: True mah cos we
know we paying for biodegradable bags
[1:49 pm, 12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: When you know
that you doing your part for green effort even paying for it makes you feel
good
[1:50 pm, 12/04/2021] +Ben: and supporting a
sustainable business that can supply countries in the region
[1:54 pm, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
You assume that poor
households can afford to pay.
[1:55 pm,
12/04/2021] +REACH: SGUnited traineeship and attachment schemes benefit 9,500
job seekers
Some 9,500 job
seekers have participated in two SGUnited schemes launched last year to tackle
weakened hiring demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As of end-February,
about 200 have found full-time employment while still undergoing training in
these programmes, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workforce Singapore
(WSG) in a jobs situation report on Monday (April 12).
More:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/sgunited-traineeship-attachment-schemes-benefit-9500-200-found-full-time-employment
[1:59 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: they cannot
[2:02 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-asia-china-56713663
[2:03 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. I have come
across a household $1,200 per month - barely surviving - and now reduce to $400
to $600 a month.
2. Some households
depends on social workers to provide them free food for lunch and dinner.
Still want to charge
them 20 cents a bag?
[2:03 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Yes definitely
[2:03 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Then they bring own recycle bags
[2:03 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: Refuse bags, they buy?
[2:04 pm, 12/04/2021]
☸️ Danny 心: Recycle bags they buy?
[2:05 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: social services must intervene
[2:05 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Not all households
are reachable.
Many keep it to
themselves.
[2:09 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: true
[2:10 pm, 12/04/2021]
+Alvin Lim: Didn’t you mention some scheme to help the poor
regarding this?
[2:11 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Can use that like simi voucher or something
[2:13 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: Then I agree.
[2:14 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: My ideas is propose alternatives
[2:14 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: Ok
[2:14 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: People won’t be happy paying for
plastic bags when all along we haven’t been paying for them
[2:14 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: But... if you say wait... these bags are biodegradable
[2:15 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Ahhh
[2:15 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Now maybe I could spare a little more for this bags
[2:15 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Those who can’t afford get help from gov
[2:15 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Win-win-win
[2:17 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Everything add up -
else government won't have to dig into reserves to help business and households
during this pandemic.
Many households
income are still badly hurt.
Imposing further
costs on household is like throwing hailstones in a snowstorm.
[2:18 pm,
12/04/2021] +Jess Sunga: ��
[2:38 pm, 12/04/2021] +Dan: Its going to be a long
process to go Green. Take baby steps, cultivate the habits first, before gg
into biodegradable plastics. I'm just glad the G is committed in making this
happen.
[2:42 pm, 12/04/2021] +Dan: Recycling bags can be
distributed to the needy like how the masks are distributed. We already have a
system in place so why not use it.
[2:42 pm, 12/04/2021] +Dan: The only inconvenience
is how to dispose daily trash without using plastic bags.
[2:47 pm, 12/04/2021] +Rama: all hands on deck for
this.
[2:54 pm, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: BTW this was a bad
joke
[2:54 pm, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: Before @+REACH
delete the original msg
[2:55 pm, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: And after that got
no news or update that is a joke.
Ppl will have more trust issue with Gov ..
[2:55 pm, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: @+REACH about after
10 mins that msg was deleted with no explanation on the deletion or
clarification that it was a joke...
[2:58 pm, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-china-mulls-mixing-vaccines-to-improve-efficacy-of-jabs-14600406
China acknowledge that its vaccines eg. Sinovac and Sinopharm efficacy
are low - and is mulling mixing with other covid vaccines. mRNA is cited as
good vaccines.
[2:58 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/blood-clots-linked-to-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-stem-from-rare-antibody
AstraZeneca vaccine
trigger blood clot link found - due to antibody reaction to platelets that
involves blood clot.
[2:59 pm,
12/04/2021] +Murphy Choy:
https://sg.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-singapore-20-new-cases-local-transmission-074012218.html
[3:33 pm,
12/04/2021] +Caleb: Seems like all comments were against today's topic.
[3:34 pm,
12/04/2021] +Caleb: Wonder who pushes this. Lol
[4:03 pm,
12/04/2021] +REACH: [Sent by Gov.sg – 12 Apr]
As of 12pm, MOH has
preliminarily confirmed no new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection.
There are 25
imported cases, who had already been placed on Stay-Home Notice or isolated
upon arrival in Singapore.
MOH will share
further updates in its press release that will be issued later tonight.
go.gov.sg/moh120421update
[5:32 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Let us examine
the 2 approaches to solving the plastic bags problem and the hygiene problem by
bagging home waste :-
Approach 1 - Levy
charge for each plastic bags in supermarket
a. Household are
charge double
- buy own recycled
bags to carry groceries
- buy refuse bags
for every day used to bag home waste and liquid waste
- Result :- Net loss
for household
b. Government and
Supermarket
- Gain by
supermarket stores - saving (no need to produce more plastic bags)
- Gain by Government
- less landfill required, less incineration plant required
(Never underestimate
the outcome of this double loss to household - it may be translated into
political cost).
Approach 2 - Provide
"Refuse bag voucher" of $150 per year ($146 to buy refuse bags daily
and $4 to buy recycle bag carrier for groceries) or provide free refuse bags by
town council to all houeshold or 1st 7 plastic bags free (thereafter levy
charge).
a. Household - no
gain no loss
b. Government and
Supermarket
- Gain by
supermarket stores - saving (no need to produce more plastic bags)
- Gain by Government
- less landfill required, less incineration plant required
- Loss by Government
- got to fork out $225 million for refuse bags and recycle bags to household
(but compensated by taxes to Supermarkets where people pay for plastic bags).
c. Outcome :-
Neutral to household. Net gain for Government and Supermarket.
So Approach 2 is
more superior - than just levy charges on plastic bags to shoppeers - without
compensating solutions to fund refuse bags and recycled bags.
[5:34 pm,
12/04/2021] +Caleb: ya, ppl are inconvenient, so may become political cost.
[6:01 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: French firm Sanofi invests S$638 million to build vaccine
production facility in Tuas South
https://sg.news/?p=525447
[6:03 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: Late payment charges on HDB mortgage and public rental payments
further suspended till Sept 30
https://sg.news/?p=525439
[6:13 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3129027/taiwan-stage-live-fire-drills-fears-possible-pla-attack-grow
Military tension in Asia Pacific
soar.
[6:14 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129122/us-navy-warns-china-were-watching-you-destroyer-shadows US, Taiwan,
Philippines and China navy sail the South China Sea and East China Sea -
sending the temperatures soaring.
[6:16 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Notto dish shitto again
[6:29 pm,
12/04/2021] +REACH: Groups of up to 50 allowed for Singapore walking, cycling
and kayaking tours
Walking, cycling and
kayaking tours will be able to accommodate up to 50 people from Wednesday
(April 14), up from the previous limit of 20. But tours will still be subject
to existing social gathering sizes, which means that 50 people must be split
into groups of eight, with no intermingling allowed, the Singapore Tourism
Board (STB) said in an update on Monday (April 12).
The larger group
sizes are in line with the further easing of community measures announced by
the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19 last month.
More:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/groups-of-up-to-50-allowed-for-singapore-walking-cycling-and-kayaking-tours
[6:29 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
No need to dish.
When war break out,
everyone will know.
[6:30 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: ��
[6:34 pm, 12/04/2021] +Caleb: meaning?
[6:36 pm, 12/04/2021] +Ben: Great, but still my kid can't play 5 a side
football.. they are limited to 4 a side still. Doh!
[6:37 pm, 12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
It will just mean
our search and rescue planes and ship more busy to search for bodies and
sinking planes and ships.
[6:37 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: It’s a meme “Not this shit again” in Japanese language
[6:38 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: Philippine navy in no position to launch a show of force
currently. Taiwan will be stretched to
opponent's advantage
[6:39 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
If war break out
behind our backyard - it will be bad for everyone.
5 trillion trade are
crossing this sea lane.
[6:39 pm,
12/04/2021] +Rama: agree
[6:40 pm,
12/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Our port hub, air
hub - get economically hit - many people will lose their jobs again.
[6:41 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Not sure why but buses and food courts are purely
packed today.
[6:42 pm,
12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: MOH might want to check if 75% is ideal
[6:45 pm,
12/04/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp
chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
[6:47 pm, 12/04/2021] +Bobby Tan: Good night Megan
[6:49 pm, 12/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Gdnite Megan
[6:58 pm, 12/04/2021] +Kevin: Good night Megan
[7:00 pm, 12/04/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp
chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
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