• HK government estimates that Hong Kongers throw away 8 billion plastic shopping bags a year -> more than 3 bags per person a day
• The call for the levying of taxes on plastic bags given out in supermarkets is an effort to reduce environmental pollution in HK
• HK$5 ($1) is levied on every plastic bag supermarkets and retail chain stores give out
• A year of trials run in the city’s supermarket shows promising results;

80 million fewer plastic bags were being handed out till date

• However, critics argue that the government is sending the message that the use of plastic bags is evil and for any other material, it is fine. It backs the stereotypical ideas, causing adverse effects on such an industry as it faces a shortage of new entrant workers. It also hinders efforts in employing technology to reduce the damage that plastic does to the environment
• Nevertheless, the foreseen problems faced by Hong Kongers (inconvenience) have not thwarted the hopes of environmental officials.
• Abuse of plastic bags in HK continues to be a huge threat to the environment

• California- law requires large grocery stores and pharmacies to sell reusable bags and recycle plastic bags that customers return
• Uganda- bans plastic bags this month to reduce the stinking piles of rubbish that litters dusty capital. Officials want Ugandans to use banana leaves instead, the traditional way to carry goods
• London- shows maybe be banned from giving plastic bags under new law. This month, officials proposed a ban on the bags, or the introduction of a 10pence (31cents) levy, to cut waste going into the landfill

In my opinion, inconvenience is still one of the major factors that impede the efforts of environmental conservation. The phenomenon of global warming and its effects has grown in its depth of discussion over the years. As the situation becomes more real, most countries world over are taking their stance in preserving the earth.

I feel that the levying of taxes on plastic bags is a useful method in deterring the abuse of usage of plastic bags. This additional cost imposed to consumers hopefully enables them to feel the pinch and thus would switch to the more environmentally friendly approach of using reusable bags.

Singapore uses 2.5billion plastic bags each year, with 19million kg of used plastic bags constituting to the total waste.

The latest Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) Day by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) was launched a week leading to Earth Day on 18 April 2007. To ensure that the scheme lives on, every subsequent first Wednesday of the month is BYOB day. Each plastic bag taken at the checkout counters comes with an additional charge of 10cents. Also, only selected supermarkets are practicing BYOB scheme.

I would say that the BYOB scheme does not have much impact on me and this may also apply to others who don’t visit the supermarkets often. Hence, the handing out of little plastic bags for small item still has to be endured. However, it is undeniable that these supermarkets encounter one of the largest use of plastic bags and effects of the new scheme may be considerable. I believe that the use of reusable bags is a habit that can be cultivated if wanted. It really depends on how willing an individual is to carry along the reusable bag with him/her when visiting the supermarkets. Will you?

Education is still relied upon as the most feasible method in our quest to conserve the environment. It took 20 years for Singaporeans to cultivate the habit of bagging rubbish automatically, (even though there are still quite a number who STILL do not practice that). But after 30 years of no littering campaign, they are still littering. So, what next?

Labels: environment