What more can we do to cut waste and use of plastic bags?

I refer to the news report on NTUC Fairprice ending its trial where customers have to pay for plastic bags. (“Month-long ‘no plastic bag’ trial at seven NTUC FairPrice outlets comes to an end", Oct 17.)

I have some suggestions on what supermarkets, retailers and consumers can do for the environment through reducing, re-using, recycling and upcycling.

First, I would like to applaud Prime Supermarket at Jurong West St 75 for taking the initiative to put a bin at its entrance for people to donate their recycled shopping bags so that those who forget to bring one to the supermarket can use them. 

This is a great idea as most of us keep many of these bags and do not need all of them.

It would be great if all supermarkets can also provide a bin for consumers to drop both plastic and cardboard packaging from their purchases which they do not need.

Yes, this would take up some space and require manpower to clear and sort but if retailers are serious about reducing waste, then they, along with consumers, must do their bit.

As consumers, we should strive to always carry along with us old plastic bags or a foldable grocery/shopping bag so that we can cut down waste. These can also be used to bag our wet umbrellas instead of those long slim plastic bags at the entrance of the shopping centres which tend to be thrown away after one use.  

Try to eat at the eatery and avoid take-away unless you bring along your own container. Decline the offer of plastic forks, spoons, straws and even small sachets of chilli sauce if possible. If you are going to drink your beverage immediately, avoid taking the cup covers and straws. Bring your own tumblers and cups.

It will require all of us to be creative and to constantly think hard about whether how we can cut down our waste, or put some of it to better use before we throw it away. Only if we are deliberate in doing so on a daily basis can it become a habit so that we can truly reduce the use of single-use bags, containers, forks, spoons, straws, plastic cup covers and so on.

It will be inconvenient and troublesome but we are talking about a serious problem here of running out of space for our trash and passing the problem to our children and grandchildren in future.

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