Singaporeans obsession with Plastic bags

[rajagainstthemachine]

srsly! i feel like the picture below,
almost everywhere you go and buy stuff there is this obsession to pack it in a plastic bag and then another bag and then another bag
seriously we have to find ways to reduce plastic usage in Singapore
please say no to using plastic and carry a cloth bag with you if you are going shopping

[rajagainstthemachine]

[sundaymorningstaple]

So then how are you gong to bag your garbage? Go out and buy plastic bags?

[Brah]

I don't see it as anything Singapore-specific

[rajagainstthemachine]

you can put your garbage in paper bags too right? but in some cases that wont work.
I'm not suggesting an outright rejection of using plastic bags instead to minimize the usage.

case in point: you walk to bread talk , buy 4 different buns/pastries
at the counter each item is packed into a different plastic bag, the 4 items are then packed in another plastic bag. so thats like 5 pieces of plastic for something thats going to be eaten in 5 mins and chucked away.
imagine 100 ppl visiting that store each one buying 3 items thats a whopping 400 bags alone.
moving to decomposable/biodegradable material is more suitable and environmentally friendly.
the sad thing is Singapore can enforce it. while larger countries can only suggest.

[rajagainstthemachine]

I don't see it as anything Singapore-specific

mustafa center - notorious for its overuse of plastic bags
bread talk
umbrella covers
fair price

the other day a lady in a 7-11 store wanted a free plastic bag cause she bought a newspaper

[Brah]

Yeah I agree with you, just that it's done all over the world, it's nothing special to Singapore.

I saw the same thing in Japan, exacerbated by all the plastic used in 7-11 lunches and dinners, which is exponentially more popular there than here. And quite often, not bad actually...

[x9200]

A part of the problem is that they pack everything for you with a really few exceptions like Ikea. They pack up the stuff almost every piece separately only grouping them up as long as you do not transfer the ready bags to your basket/trolley (and sometimes regardless). At least in Europe they give you only the bags to pack by yourself and as nobody likes to carry +100 bags you end up with fewer of them. A separate thing is that in many places you also have to pay for the bags. Again, I am only aware of Ikea having such habits locally.

[sundaymorningstaple]

you can put your garbage in paper bags too right? but in some cases that wont work.

Are you actually serious? A paper bag in your garbage can would last long enough to get half full. Obviously you eat out and do not eat a home do you.

[JR8]

@ RATM

I'm confused, you seem to be advocating:

Using paper rubbish bags, which will burst in the chute, cause roach infestation and require additional chemical fumigation.

Not using plastic bags. But I can't see why you take this position. Care to elaborate?

Your second picture appears to show bottles at a recycling plant. Are you trying to say that you are opposed to recycling?

[rajagainstthemachine]

@some of the replies.

lets start with SMS and his need for plastic bags for dumping rubbish
-its actually a great idea and I do it myself too, its great for wet garbage, but for dry rubbish like paper, dust, wrappers etc you could use a paper bag.
its all well and good for me to say use a paper bag, where do we get one?
none of the supermarkets/shops give them away

Solution: get supermarkets to give away paper bags instead of plastic bags for dry goods, that turns into an easy biodegradable resource which can be recyled quite easily.

@JR8
my stance is not anti plastic bags, I am only opposed to excessive usage of them which seems to be the case in many shops.
My pictures seem to signify the fact that us humans are inundating ourself in plastic.

[rajagainstthemachine]

also there are these - disposable plates and trays made of palm which are can be used for take away. these are much better than the Styrofoam ones that are in use now.

These are in use in India almost everywhere nowadays.

[offshoreoildude]

I concur plastic bags are over used and a significant source of pollution and GHG.

I also believe paper bags are not any form of a solution as they require pulp and generate GHG on burning.

The answer is to minimize packaging and repackaging for certain and to reuse bags where possible, Also banana leafs are excellent plates.

[JR8]

but for dry rubbish like paper, dust, wrappers etc you could use a paper bag.

Paper isn't rubbish, you're supposed to recycle it.

Solution: get supermarkets to give away paper bags instead of plastic bags for dry goods, that turns into an easy biodegradable resource which can be recyled quite easily.

Biodegradable and recyclable? I'm confused again. The former requires land-filling it, the latter recycling it. They would seem to be polar opposites.

My pictures seem to signify the fact that us humans are inundating ourself in plastic.

The first one appears to show a vagrant wrapped up in plastic bags. The second one shows a PET recycling plant. I'm unclear how either shows 'us humans inundating ourself under plastic'. Unless you're trying to do the socialist 'We're all guilty' shtick.

[JR8]

Oh, and you appear to be advocating single-use wood products that you can't recycle and have to landfill/incinerate.

Versus

Plastic bags which as LDPE you can recycle.
[Reference: http://www.zerowastesg.com/2008/12/08/p ... recycling/ ]

So you're for single-use non-reclyable products and anti recyclable plastic bags?

Doh, your position is mighty confusing!