Singaporeans obsession with Plastic bags

[jsompinm]

I find the overuse of plastic bags hideous as well. And the problem is exponential as there is not that much of recycling going on. Maybe the idea is to dump the plastic bags into the ocean and get some more "land" that way...

[zzm9980]

I find the overuse of plastic bags hideous as well. And the problem is exponential as there is not that much of recycling going on. Maybe the idea is to dump the plastic bags into the ocean and get some more "land" that way...

Could lower property prices. Sounds win-win to me!

[ankle]

Well, I used to work as a cashier in a supermarket as vacation job. I'll have to say, some customer are really very very particular about packaging. If you packed it wrongly (ie, wet and dry goods, fragile and non fragile, consumable and non consumable in a bag), you might get scolded by nasty customer (regardless nationality).

Regarding recycling,
In ntuc, if you give your recycle bags to the cashier, they'll help you to pack your groceries nicely into your recycle bags and gave you 10cent rebate. But then again, after travelling to other countries, i'll say the "recycle" culture in sg is still quite behind comparably.

[Travailes]

Regarding recycling,
In ntuc, if you give your recycle bags to the cashier, they'll help you to pack your groceries nicely into your recycle bags and gave you 10cent rebate. But then again, after travelling to other countries, i'll say the "recycle" culture in sg is still quite behind comparably.

Bet they are monitoring that back at HQ in case profits take a dive. I doubt it ! It's 10 cents per transaction not per bag you bring. Probably count the number of rebates on one hand every day.

I think countries like Ireland have got it right. There, you pay for every bag you use. It took time to get used to, was a pain in the arse when you forgot your shopping bags but it has moved the mindset and now is part of the landscape.

[Mi Amigo]

I agree about the general complacency regarding recycling here. More often than not, any initiatives aremore about marketing and 'ticking boxes' than a genuine desire to make real progress. IIRC though, Ikea have been charging for bags for some time here. IMO that is the easiest way to control the use of plastic bags, etc.

[ankle]

@Travailes,
I meant 10cents per transaction. Well, at least ntuc is making the effort to encourage people to use recycle bags and I applauded them for that.

@amigo,
The govt did tried to encourage people to conserve energy and use recycle bags and recycle the rubbish. But unfortunately, it takes 2 hands to clap and the majorities are pretty lukewarm towards govt's effort. However, I do see from time to time that people using their own recycle bags. I even gotten word of thanks from cashiers when I brought my own recycle bags. Although it is not ideal compared to other countries, I'll say the situation here is improving.

[rajagainstthemachine]

people at stores look at you strangely if you tell them you don't want a plastic bag.

[nakatago]

people at stores look at you strangely if you tell them you don't want a plastic bag.

The same way they look at you when you:

* ask them a question clarifying something about what they sell
* ask them a question not answerable by one word
* speak to them in other than Singlish/Manglish, Mandarin, Tamil or Malay

[JR8]

people at stores look at you strangely if you tell them you don't want a plastic bag.

Yeah, and why do you care how some 'shop-girl' looks at you!? Does taking your own bag, end up destroying your ego because of how the bird on check-out looks at you?

My advice? F*** recycling, start by looking in the mirror.

[zzm9980]

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ik ... astic-bags

Customers will need to bring their own bags or purchase its reusable ones from March

The cynic in me says they don't give a f*** about recycling, but just have awesome margins on those re-usable bags they sell and they know most people will never remember to bring them again.

[rajagainstthemachine]

people at stores look at you strangely if you tell them you don't want a plastic bag.

Yeah, and why do you care how some 'shop-girl' looks at you!? Does taking your own bag, end up destroying your ego because of how the bird on check-out looks at you?

My advice? F*** recycling, start by looking in the mirror.

lol as usual your reply doesn't make sense.

[sundaymorningstaple]

and yours did?

[rajagainstthemachine]

and yours did?

Yes, unless you suffer from a reading comprehension problem too.

[sundaymorningstaple]

people at stores look at you strangely if you tell them you don't want a plastic bag.

Are you sure that they are looking at you strangely because you don't want a plastic bag. Or could it be you are a strange looking person? I don't know. I've never had people look at me strangely when I declined so to me your statement doesn't make any sense from my perspective.

[rajagainstthemachine]

people at stores look at you strangely if you tell them you don't want a plastic bag.

Are you sure that they are looking at you strangely because you don't want a plastic bag. Or could it be you are a strange looking person? I don't know. I've never had people look at me strangely when I declined so to me your statement doesn't make any sense from my perspective.

*looks at SMS strangely*