S’pore Supermarkets to Charge for Disposable Bags from July

Major S’pore Supermarkets to Charge for Disposable Bags Starting July

Major supermarkets will be required to charge a minimum of five cents for each disposable carrier bag starting July 3, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) Amy Khor said on March 2. This is to promote a shift in consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable habit of using reusable bags and being mindful of taking only the number of bags they actually need.

“This requirement will apply to supermarket operators with an annual turnover of more than S$100 million. This covers around 400, or about two thirds, of all supermarket outlets in Singapore, including NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant, Sheng Siong, and Prime supermarket outlets,” the MSE and National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint release. They also encourage operators with an annual turnover of less than S$100 million to voluntarily implement their own bag charges.

The charge doesn’t only apply to plastics, but also to disposable carrier bags of all material types, including paper and those made with biodegradable raw materials. As per the release, disposables (regardless of material) have an impact on the environment during their production, transportation, and disposal.

“With the disposable carrier bag charge, we hope it will encourage a shift towards more sustainable habits and lifestyles, as we collectively work towards our journey towards a Zero Waste Singapore.”

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