Straits Times Forum 21 Jan 11;
THE concerns with plastic bags relate to them being sent to landfills where they can pollute the environment ("Charge a fee for plastic bags"; Jan 14).
In Singapore, plastic bags are sent to our waste-to-energy plants for incineration, rather than to our landfill. Notwithstanding this, as part of its 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) efforts, the National Environment Agency currently encourages the public and community to reduce their packaging waste as well as reuse items that are reusable.
Retailers such as NTUC FairPrice and Ikea have also implemented their own schemes to encourage the use of customers' own bags or discourage the overuse of plastic bags. We would encourage more organisations to step forward to adopt more environmentally friendly practices rather than making it mandatory to charge a fee for plastic bags.
Low Fong Hon
Director
Waste and Resource Management Department
National Environment Agency
Charge a fee for plastic bags
Straits Times Forum 14 Jan 11;
I URGE the National Environment Agency to emulate the Penang state government in implementing the 'No free plastic bags every day of the week' policy which began on Jan 1.
The environmental destruction caused by plastic bags is massive and cannot be quantified by dollars and cents. Consumers in Singapore are nonchalant because plastic bags come free and are found aplenty at supermarkets.
It is time for Singapore to emulate Penang and even China in charging consumers a fee for plastic bags. It is only when consumers feel the pinch of purchasing plastic bags at checkout counters that they will change their habits and take along their own shopping bags.
Elgar Lee
