Plastic Bags: Ban or not to ban?

Subject: Plastic Bags: Ban or not to ban? Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:51 pm

The Straits Times 13/06/2008 wrote:: While environmentalists want a ban, some feel minimising use would do

THE humble plastic bag has found itself back in the limelight once more, with environment enthusiasts pushing for a complete ban on the bags while others say otherwise.

Those rubbishing a ban argue that such carriers can be reused to bag junk. Also, they ultimately wind up in the incinerator, so concerns about them being non-biodegradable can be dismissed.

Mr Daniel Wang Nan Chee, former director-general of public health at the National Environment Agency (NEA), even wrote in to The Straits Times Forum page on Monday to urge Singaporeans to say no to any proposition of a ban.

Writing in his personal capacity, he said that without plastic bags, apartment-dwelling Singaporeans would be forced to chuck out wet refuse that would decay on the walls of chutes. The nightmare would not be just for cleaners. As vermin like cockroaches multiply, the health of residents would also be affected.

"We can easily reuse these plastic bags from supermarkets. The unwieldy small ones, such as those from pharmacies, and the thick ones when we buy clothing – which we can't reuse – are what we should be targeting in our campaigns," Mr Wang told The Straits Times.

Plus, Mr Wang pointed out that plastic bags are safely incinerated with the rest of household refuse – contrary to the misperception that they release toxic fumes.

Associate Professor Ting Yen Peng, a chemical and biomolecular engineer at the National University of Singapore, agreed.

He said that unlike the lower temperatures of dumpsite bonfires, where cancer-causing chemicals are released from burning plastics, flaming plastic in incineration plants is safe.

"Under those high temperatures of 800 to 1,000 deg C, pollutants like dioxins and furans are not produced, and even if they were, NEA should have measures in place to trap them, before they are released into the air," he said.

An NEA spokesman said Singapore's incinerators run at 1,000 deg C, filter out ash and neutralise any acidic gases produced.

Forum letter writer Faye Chiam argued that incineration may reduce the volume of waste, but plastic bag ash residues still have to be stuffed into Singapore's manmade landfill on Pulau Semakau.

Environmentalists say that besides disposal, the manufacture of plastic bags is also cause for concern. They point out that these bags are made from fossil fuel, the same source as that of petrol, which is expected to skyrocket to US$200 (S$274) a barrel this year.

Singapore's 4.5 million people use about 2.5 billion plastic bags a year.

When asked, those against banning the plastic bag offered some consolation.

Mr Wang said oil from trash such as plastics helps keep incinerators burning without an external source of fuel. NEA added that the four incineration plants supplied 2 to 3 per cent of Singapore's electricity supply.

But bags have to be binned in the first place, NEA conceded. Only refuse that makes it into chutes and rubbish bins can wind up in incinerators.

One reason for the NEA campaign, which began in 2006 to minimise the use of plastic bags, has been the high amount of plastic litter. Much of it chokes drains and forms a breeding ground for mosquitoes, its website said.

Unlike rotting food, plastic bags can stay in the ground or seas for hundreds of years, added environmentalists.

Ms Chiam pointed out how they entangle wildlife or can be mistaken for food, choking animals to death.

Mr N. Sivasothi, coordinator of the annual International Coastal Cleanup Singapore, can attest to this. Last year, its volunteers collected 2,600kg of trash along East Coast Park alone.

Current campaigns pitched by NEA and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) do not aim for an eventual ban of plastic bag usage, the agencies said.

Instead, they are to minimise the number of plastic bags shoppers pick up while making their rounds. They have the support of stores such as NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage and Ikea.

In supermarkets, Bring Your Own Bag Day on Wednesdays has gone from a monthly to weekly affair this month, where those without their own carriers have to purchase reusable cloth bags from stores.

Cashiers have had a range of responses from customers – from greenies with their own bags to those who dump all their groceries and walk out if asked to buy a bag.

Teacher Eleanor Barnabas, 28, brought up the largest complaint of shoppers thus far: They cannot remember what rule individual stores go by.

On a given day, will they be surprised by a free bag at checkout? Or will they have to buy a plastic one for 10 cents? Or pay $1.50 for a cloth carrier?

SEC chief executive Howard Shaw said he hopes shoppers will come up with their own strategy. On Wednesday, he began discussions with large retail stores like Metro, to discourage the use of plastic bags among shoppers.

"The mechanics have yet to be worked out, but cloth bags would be preferable, since people are much more likely to stash them in their home, office or car to use again," he said.

skesava@sph.com.sg

NO TO BAN
"We can easily reuse these plastic bags from supermarkets. The unwieldy small ones, such as those from pharmacies, and the thick ones when we buy clothing – which we can't reuse – are what we should be targeting in our campaigns."
MR DANIEL WANG NAN CHEE, former director-general of public health at the National Environment Agency

YES TO BAN
"I keep a folded cloth bag in my handbag and whip it out when I need it. If people want bags for wet refuse at home, they should buy black trash bags. Plastic bags given out randomly wind up at bus stops, drains or beaches."
EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER ELEANOR BARNABAS, 28, who feels over-the-counter plastic bags should be banned completely

Plastic Bags: Ban or not to ban? Recycle-symbol

In what way is the use of plastic bag causing market failure?

Do you agree that plastic bags should be banned?