Commentary: Supermarket plastic bag charge – a case where policies work but expectations diverge
CNA
The plastic bag charge is a useful policy but recent discussions offer a reminder that when policies rely more on encouragement, rather than obligation, expectations can diverge, says sustainability practitioner Heng Li Seng.
SINGAPORE: It has been more than two years since Singapore put in place a mandatory charge for plastic bags at major supermarkets.
Concerns emerged recently over where the policy proceeds are going. In a CNA report, the Singapore Environment Council flagged concerns about supermarket operators using these funds for internal business operations, rather than external causes, and warned that such uses may undermine public support. Reactions online suggest that some members of the public share these concerns.
It is important to note that the policy did not fail. Based on earlier media reports, the mandatory charge has reduced disposable carrier bag usage by 50 per cent to 80 per cent.
This outcome matters but what the recent discussion reveals is a divergence between how the policy is designed and how it has come to be understood. This is important, especially for sustainability initiatives that rely on public cooperation, rather than strict enforcement.
Under the Disposable Carrier Bag Charge scheme, which started in July 2023, large supermarket operators with annual turnover of more than S$100 million (US$79 million) are required to charge at least five cents for each disposable carrier bag.
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