Environmental tax for Singapore?
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THE suggestion to levy a tax for the use of plastic bags should be implemented by the government soon.
I refer to the article 'Cut use of plastic bags? Levy tax on users' by Peh Shing Hui on Oct 27.
There has been a lot of talk about reducing the use of plastic bags and many initiatives have been taken by supermarket chains on this but little has been achieved.
Any other move to encourage the use of recycleable bags will also fail because the use of plastic bags and other plastic products, without any consideration for serious environmental damage, is a national habit that is almost impossible to change.
Whether it is the neighbourhood minimart or the big supermarket chains, most customers will insist on using plastic bags even for small items.
This can also be observed at the shopping malls every day.
A tax levied on plastic bags is in line with pay-as-you-use schemes such as the GST, ERP and so on.
Despite much publicity, there is still widespread public ignorance of the huge environmental costs associated with plastic bag usage.
Since all the efforts at weaning Singaporeans off the dependence on plastic bags have produced miserable results, it is time we gave legislation a chance.
Phillip Ang Keng Hong
(Straits Times Forum Page, 31 Oct) -
According to my observation, Singaporean did not adopt the lifestyle of sorting out their rubbish according to the the rubbish's nature (ie. organic / recycleable or according to any other catergory. Japanese are doing this for years.). So they put every rubbish into one plastic bag and throw them down the rubbish chute. I still remember my primary school health education textbook states that, it is more hygiene (as it will keep the stench inside the plastic bag) and cleaners are less prompt to injuries. Keeping rubbish inside plastic bag also helps to prevent pest like rats and cockroaches away, as stated in the same textbook.
Yes, of course, we can also use the recycleable bags to put our rubbish in. But do you trust it to contain gravy (virtually 80% water)? As it is basic physicsWe all know that liquid will always find it's way to the bottom of the container, as it is basic physics. Of course, we can use the water resistance recycleable bags. What about the cost of these bags? Are they cheaper than the good-old plastic bag? Can an average Joe afford these recycleable bags to put the rubbish?
Basic uses aside, the price tag of these recycleable bags is marked $1. Of course, it is viewed as cheap in some of the well-off family, but does it apply to your average Joe?
Has Mr (I assume it is a "Mr" from the name "Phillip") Phillip Ang Keng Hong ever put these into consideration before making such a suggestion? -
Ok if govt shd implement it, do it now. Cos if too near elections, 66.6% mandate will drop.
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Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Despite much publicity, there is still widespread public ignorance of the huge environmental costs associated with plastic bag usage.
Very true.
Since all the efforts at weaning Singaporeans off the dependence on plastic bags have produced miserable results, it is time we gave legislation a chance.
It's seriously a LPPL issue to me. IF NTUC, OG or some grocery store gives me a plastic bag, I will take. I may even ask for more, in case one bag is too thin. If there were to be a ban on plastic bags and the use of paper bags to be imposed instead, then I would make do with paper bags. To levy a tax on unsuspecting common citizens is nt right.
Phillip Ang Keng Hong
(Straits Times Forum Page, 31 Oct) -
Wow cool man, we have income tax, property tax, road tax, radio and tv tax (disguised as licence), now we're going to have a plastic bag tax, how cool is that?
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We also dun have much water even with Newater, so we may have to put cashcard into our basin to use water. Not now but can't guarantee the future
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Imagine an ERP system when you want to take a shower. $1.50 for 10min shower, $0.50 for every 5mins thereafter.
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I'm sure the elites can afford that.Originally posted by ditzy:Imagine an ERP system when you want to take a shower. $1.50 for 10min shower, $0.50 for every 5mins thereafter.
And they will tell the average Joe, who can't afford it, to get out of their "uncaring, elite face". -
knn, that would be like washing cars already.Originally posted by ditzy:Imagine an ERP system when you want to take a shower. $1.50 for 10min shower, $0.50 for every 5mins thereafter. -
Wah sei!! Then they charge car insurance and road tax to a citizen as well liao. Then next time you step out the door, you must flash your eZlink card that the lock, then the lock will open. If you didn't do that, the lock won't open.Originally posted by Rock^Star:knn, that would be like washing cars already.
Then wherever you go, you must always put the COE on your forehead. -
C'mon everybody, help the govt think of a new tax leh. But must be realistic ones yeh.
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To levy a tax although it is an environmental-friendly one seem to add burden on the already high cost of living for the citizens. Beside, I am not sure whether the environmental tax might turn potential investors off from setting up their businesses here.
Perhaps in my humble opinion, the problem can be better tackle in twofolds simultaneously, through proper education (Go Green Campaign) and for the government to offer incentives to corporation who go 'green' rather than to legislate new tax.
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Taxes? This is utter rubbish. I see this as yet another mask for the gahmen to collect even more money from the citizens. Why can't anybody realize this?
What the government NEEDS to do is to simply clear the trash for us, instead of imposing more taxes. I have realized that taxes don't work - they serve only to make more complaints from the people. And they raise the already high cost of living here -- so what's the use?
Why can't the government actually do something useful? They could be doing things such as employing people to help sort the trash - hey this reduces unemployment as well! Why can't they invest in envoronmentally-friendly plastic bags? Taxes are redundant as best, detrimental at worst! -
Many 1st world countries already started long time ago with incentives for its people.
This sort of business with no economical value....you think blood sucking papvampires will do it with their heart, do you think they will give incentive to people with environmental conscious?
They will use creative accounting to charge us more, again and again. -
always using the cane (penality system) to get obediance out of the masses can only go so far and develop the people so deep.
There are places where people naturally love their habitat and take the effort to ensure their environment is protected without extra levy or costs and it was done so that everyone can enjoy the riches of the environment. Why don't we learn from these places then always whipping the people with fines/tax/penality like an animal to get compliance. Its really uncreative on the part of the policy maker and the loss of respect toward them continues while we know better having seen a bit of the world... -
Lashing out penalty is easy, correcting people's action is difficult.Originally posted by mistyblue:always using the cane (penality system) to get obediance out of the masses can only go so far and develop the people so deep.
There are places where people naturally love their habitat and take the effort to ensure their environment is protected without extra levy or costs and it was done so that everyone can enjoy the riches of the environment. Why don't we learn from these places then always whipping the people with fines/tax/penality like an animal to get compliance. Its really uncreative on the part of the policy maker and the loss of respect toward them continues while we know better having seen a bit of the world...
Our leader just took the easy way out. -
Why not cut to the chase...Singaporeans don't give a damn to the environment..
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Sg incinerator is able to sustain it's own heat by burning trash, and can even generate electricity to supply to the power grid.
Sekali less ppl use trash bags.. then need to use natural gas to burn rubbish. In the end.. triple wammy, pay for plastic bags, higher refuse charges, and also higher power bills.
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Depends.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Why not cut to the chase...Singaporeans don't give a damn to the environment..
I see Singaporeans are disciplined not to litter and not to spit.
Also I remember Check Jawa, there was a movement to save and restore it.
I think plastic bag is just simply too.....trivial.
People dont want to think about this leceh stuff. -
Plastic bag matter is not trivial.The attitude that matter.Originally posted by #$%^&*:Depends.
I see Singaporeans are disciplined not to litter and not to spit.
Also I remember Check Jawa, there was a movement to save and restore it.
I think plastic bag is just simply too.....trivial.
People dont want to think about this leceh stuff. -
I support this but the govt doesn't have to tax on plastic bag. Why tax and how?
In Australia, you need to pay (the supermarket) for the plastic bag and this is good enough to discourage excessive usage. We can adopt this strategy if the vendors are cooperative. No need for govt to step in. -
those who support this must be very rich.
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there are far too many things that affects the enviroment.
in comparison, plastic bags usage is trivial. -
Funny sometimes when I just buy 1 or 2 simple items and I rejected the plastic bag... The staff would sometimes give me a 'black face' or INSIST and PUSH the BAG to me... (leaving my items outside....)
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the better way is to advise cashiers to give out fewer plastic bags.