Going green: Singapore still has a long way to go

Koh Seng Leong, Straits Times Forum 21 Apr 08;

IS SINGAPORE really a 'green' and 'eco-friendly' society? What I see around me makes me wonder.

Consider the use of plastic bags. I read in the papers that every year, millions and millions of such bags are disposed of by Singaporeans.

We are one of the smallest countries in the world and yet Singapore is the world's biggest user of plastic bags per person.

Step into any supermarket or petrol kiosk and buy a small packet of tissues - and the cashier will surely put it into a plastic bag without even asking. This bag will end up in the garbage when you reach home.

On the first Wednesday of this month, I was at NTUC FairPrice and Cold Storage. It was 'Bring Your Own Bag Day'. But guess what ? Cashiers at both supermarkets were still packing groceries into plastic bags just like it was any other day.

Going green and eco-friendly is not so difficult. There are already many tried and tested solutions. We just have to follow the good examples.

Already many countries in Europe and also South Africa make people pay 50 cents for every plastic bag they use.

Enough of education, awareness and coaxing.

When people have to pay even 20 cents for a plastic bag, they will naturally bring their own bags.