New scheme planned to replace Bring Your Own Bag Day

Saifulbahri Ismail, Sharon See Channel NewsAsia 23 Apr 10;

SINGAPORE : The weekly "Bring Your Own Bag Day" campaign will end soon. In its place is a new nationwide scheme that the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) plans to introduce.

Every Wednesday, shoppers at retail outlets which are part of the "Bring Your Own Bag Day" campaign can either buy re-usable cloth bags, or donate 10 cents for every plastic bag that they ask for.

Proceeds go to fund other SEC environmental programmes. But after running for three years, this weekly campaign will soon end.

Howard Shaw, executive director, Singapore Environment Council, said: "I think it had (played) its role as a campaign. ... it has created awareness about plastic bag issues. You do see many more people using renewable bags these days.

"So, I think that's encouraging and we see also a lot of other retailers, smaller retailers, fashion brands moving away from disposable bags and actually giving their customers reusable bags as well."

The spirit of the campaign will live on and grow stronger.

A survey by the National Environment Agency indicated that about two thirds of shoppers supported a more frequent "Bring Your Own Bag Day".

Mr Shaw said: "We are in dialogues with all the major retailers to actually implement a nationwide scheme, basically bringing your own bag day, every day, idea - by offering their customers incentives for using reusable bags, like a small discounts, for example.

"So instead of charging them for the bag, you give them a discount for not taking a bag."

Some retailers are already doing this. Every day, supermarket chain FairPrice gives customers who spend at least S$10 a 10-cent rebate if they bring their own shopping bags.

Mr Shaw said the challenge now is to get the commitment from all major retailers to participate on the new scheme.

Consumers support this idea.

Ho Keen Hoe said: "Actually, it's more important to make the effort rather than treat it as an inconvenience."

"I think that's a step further in the right direction, simply because the point is hammered harder into people. People actually see the point clearer, said Abdul Azin bin Awalluddin.

Koh Han Pin added: "If it's (on an) everyday basis, then I think it will be like a normal routine. Then you'll just automatically put a bag inside your bag."

SEC will announce details of the new scheme in June.

- CNA/al

Bring your own bag ... every day
Today Online 24 Apr 10;

SINGAPORE - Say goodbye to the campaign to get shoppers to bring along their own bags every Wednesday. Instead it's to become a daily routine soon.

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is winding down its campaign which it launched in 2007 to discourage the excessive use of plastic bags. In its place could be a nation-wide scheme to get consumers to bring their own shopping bags every time they head for the stores.

Said SEC executive director Howard Shaw: "We are in dialogue with all the major retailers ... to offer their customers incentives for using reusable bags, like a small discount. So, instead of charging them for a plastic bag, you give them a discount for not taking a bag."

Under the current once-a-week scheme, shoppers are encouraged to use their own bags every Wednesday or they can voluntarily donate 10 cents for each plastic bag taken at checkout counters. Proceeds go to the SEC to fund other environmental programmes.

Mr Shaw feels the campaign has "achieved results" in creating awareness, with more people using reusable bags and more retailers - including fashion brands - moving away from using disposable bags.

A National Environment Agency survey found that about two-thirds of shoppers support a more frequent Bring Your Own Bag Day. NTUC FairPrice is one retailer that already practises a rebate scheme and customers who bring their own bags get 10 cents back.

Since the scheme started in 2007, it has given more than $600,000 in rebates and saved on more than 43 million plastic bags, the supermarket chain said.

The SEC plans to announce details of the scheme in June. Saifulbahri Ismail