IN FOCUS: Experiencing Rwanda's plastic bag ban, and whether Singapore could adopt a similar approach
Rwanda's approach of banning plastic bags with stiff penalties in 2008 has reaped environmental rewards. What lessons could Singapore learn in its own push to cut its massive amounts of plastic waste?
Above CNA article by Aqil Haziq. 'But the white sign that confronted me as I cleared customs in Rwanda’s
Kigali airport last month presented a rather unusual message: "Use of
non-biodegradable polythene bags is prohibited."'
Let's say Singapore is so inspired by Rwanda and forbid use of non biodegradable polythened bags not only for carry items but also the packaging for all items, rice, instant noodles, instant 3 in 1, frozen seafood etc etc, everything must use paper wraps like in the above photo, what would life be like in Singapore? Coming home from the market would leave a trail of water all the way. Putting the items in the car boot would mean water dripping as well. How about wrapping all your rubbish and swill in paper bags to throw into the rubbish chute?
Singapore must also send a notice to all the suppliers of goods to Singapore, all items must now be packed in non biodegradable polythene bags. All the frozen stuff must be wrapped in paper bags? Brilliant.
Let's see how the super talents respond to this since everyone is earning millions and must come up with million dollar solutions to justify their million dollar salaries. Saving the use of plastic bags would be miniscule. The effort would probably cost more than the savings.
My solution to lesser waste, lesser use of plastics, lesser demands for housing and cars, just stop exploding the population. Just by cutting down one head imported, it would save one year of waste effort. Pardon the pun. Imagine how much would be the savings if Singapore cut down importing 100,000 foreigners annually!
9 comments:
By reverting to the population of 4 million in Singapore before 2004 - the year there was a change in premiership - the current waste would be reduced by 40 percentage points, and we would not need to drink NE water that's recycled from urine and toilet bowl feacal water.
All this talk of banning of plastic bags is just hogwash. Who is the biggest plastic polluter in the whole wide world. The soft drinks manufacturer, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and big business having to wrap their products in nicely looking plastic wrappings, sometimes in multiple layers. Ban them first before talking about banning that plastic bag. Or is it because they are too big to ban? The whole world was all talking so much about saving the earth getting rid of coal, yet now going back to coal. You see what kind of hogwash we are being forced to follow? It is more like following the agenda, not the reality to care for the environment.
Now, horrors of horrors, they are even wrapping individual toilet rolls with plastic sheets even though they are already being wrapped with the big outer plastic bag. What is the purpose? To make them look good and classy. Spare me the agony.
Putting wet stuff in paper bags? The bags will burst immediately. Plastic bag usage are like opening the 'Pandora Box' that cannot be closed back, ever. When new stuffs are invented we never assume they will create problems years down the road. We just celebrate their creation and ingenuity. We never consider the cost to the environment, until it is too late to regret.
What about plastic cups for takeaway drinks? Use paper bags? As I understand, the paper cups and cartons used for drinks cannot even be recycled, because of the wax used to line them internally. That is even worse than plastic bags and bottles that can be recycled.
During the COVID19 pandemic and lockdowns, can anyone imagine the amount of plastic waste generated over the two years or so?
I was shocked over the number of plastic containers and bags used for food deliveries to homes which are all disposable plastic items. The number of containers used for take away food at hawker stalls and coffeeshops? What about the plastic disposable protection gear worn by doctors, nurses and patients at hospitals and clinics island wide, the disposable plastic syringe used for vaccination, the plastic containers for hand sanitisers, the masks discarded just per day?
Think of one plastic bag compared to all the above. Negligible, but small potatoes are the ones being punished, not businesses.
Going green and avoiding damaging the Environment is laudable.
Though Mankind shall destroy Earth before nature does,
it is only right and good to live safely healthily and in peace.
May all play a part in
keeping the Earth in good shape though wear and tear is inevitable.
Fires are burning all over Europe. It is a wonder that they have not yet blamed Putin by accusing 'Putin with breathing those fires'.
They actually wanted by starting the narrative that Wuhan lab was experimenting with Monkeypox. In other words, blaming China for Monkeypox.
Not again, some are saying. Enough is enough.
For your info:
MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/.
Russian Armed Forces carried out a precision cruise missile strike via air-and naval-based cruise missiles on Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov announced Saturday.
"During the night, Russian Armed Forces carried out a long-range precision strike via naval-and air-based cruise missiles on Ukrainian military infrastructure objects," Konashenkov said.
Russian Armed Forces destroyed over 800 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, Konashenkov added.
"Russian Armed Forces hit a total of 821 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, including 14 military airstrips, 19 control centers and communication nodes, 24 S-300 and Osa missile air defense systems, 48 radar stations," he said.
"A total of seven military planes, seven helicopters and nine drones have been downed. A total of 87 tanks and other armored vehicles, 28 multiple launch rocket systems, 118 special military automobile vehicles have been eliminated. Russian Navy destroyed eight Ukrainian military patrol boats," the spokesman added.
Russian Armed Forces took the Ukrainian city of Melitopol under total control, Konashenkov announced.
"Russian Armed Forces units gained total control over the city of Melitopol. Russian servicemen take all measures to ensure the safety of civilians and to rule out provocations from Ukrainian intelligence and nationalists," he said.
WASHINGTON, July 24.
Two Americans, a Canadian and a Swedish citizen who fought in Donbass on the side of Kiev, were killed this week, the Politico newspaper reported on Saturday.
The newspaper cites Ruslan Miroshnichenko, the foreign fighters’ commander, who said on Saturday that "the Americans killed were Luke "Skywalker" Lucyszyn and Bryan Young. He said they were killed alongside Emile-Antoine Roy-Sirois of Canada and Edvard Selander Patrignani of Sweden on July 18."
"The men were part of a special operations force within the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Miroshnichenko said. Their unit has been based near Siversk, a town in eastern Donetsk oblast," the newspaper said.
On Friday, a US State Department spokesman confirmed to reporters that two Americans had recently died in the Donbass. The department did not release their names. The US authorities have repeatedly urged Americans to refrain from visiting Ukraine, including from traveling there to participate in hostilities.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation following a request for help from the leaders of the Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow's plans did not include an occupation of Ukrainian territories. In response, the US, the UK and the European Union along with some other countries imposed sweeping sanctions against Russian individuals and entities. Moreover, the Western countries began funneling weapons and military equipment to Kiev, currently estimated at billions of dollars.
Just carry your fucking SAF rucksack for your marketing lah. Very water resistant one. Can throw in your wet fish & chicken & raw pork inside too.
As for your swill & trash --- just finish your bloody food & drink up all the gravy lah. Reduce the swill. Bones & wrappers & packaging just put in pail. Carry the pail to the rubbish chute & toss the contents down. So easy!
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