Smooth start to new disposable-bag surcharge at supermarkets, but some grouses surface
Shoppers either pay 5-cent surcharge or bring their own reusable bags, but some say tote bags not big enough for their groceries
SINGAPORE —The implementation of a disposable bag surcharge at major supermarket chains in Singapore from Monday (3 July) has garnered mixed reactions from shoppers.
While they generally complied to paying the surcharge upon paying for their supermarket items, they also expressed the limitations of bringing reusable tote bags to pack their items instead of using plastic bags.
Under the new mandatory charge, customers will be required to pay five cents for every disposable bag they take. Approximately 400 supermarkets from well-known chains such as NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant, Sheng Siong and Prime, will participate in this move, accounting for about two-thirds of all outlets in Singapore.
The mandate applies to larger supermarket operators with an annual turnover exceeding $100 million.
Balancing convenience and cost in the plastic bag surcharge era
When Yahoo Southeast Asia visited NTUC FairPrice at Northpoint City on Monday morning, the queues were generally smooth-sailing at the check-out counters. The atmosphere was calm as the cashiers reminded customers about the new surcharge.
However, amid the general smoothness of the situation, there were a few customers who appeared unaware of the five cents surcharge. Some individuals seemed surprised when the cashier mentioned the additional fee.
Unlike them, Maureen Chong, a 62-year-old Yishun resident, emphasised the importance of bringing tote bags and said, "The surcharge is not just about the five cents. For older people, the cost can sometimes add up to 25 cents, which could be used to buy other things."
Jenny Mok, a 70-year-old retiree, stated that despite her using reusable bags, she sometimes needs to buy additional plastic bags due to the large volume of groceries she purchases.
She explained, "I try to bring my reusable plastic bags. Even though it may seem like we still use plastic, we reuse them for other purposes, like grocery shopping. However, I still have to buy additional bags if there are many groceries."
Scanning barcodes at self-checkout area
During the supermarket visit, two staff members at the self-checkout area were observed to be reminding shoppers about the five-cent surcharge and assisting them through the checkout process.
Customers who use self-checkout counters will have to scan a barcode for the disposable bags for each bag they take. According to FairPrice's previous statement, this "honour system" operates primarily on the assumption that customers will act honestly.
Tay Cheng Suah, a 70-year-old shopper, found the process of purchasing plastic bags simple. However, when asked about the honour system, he commented, "Depends on the individual - they can always circumvent the system. If there is nobody around, then they can take additional bags."
There were shoppers who were unaware that the disposable-bag surcharge kicked in on Monday. Caleb, 17, opted to put his purchased items for a friend's celebration into his backpack at the self-checkout counter. He stated that he would have brought a reusable bag, had he known about the start of the surcharge.
Encouraging shopper responsibility
FairPrice Group's chief sustainability officer, Chan Tee Seng, emphasised the supermarket's full support for the policy and outlined their efforts to ensure a smooth transition.
According to him, their approach involves three key components: creating communication materials within the supermarket, providing reusable bags for those who may have forgotten their own, and reminding customers of the new surcharge.
"The final objective really is to help towards shifting the habits and the behaviours of all the shoppers to bring their own bag," Chan said. "We want to also assure everybody that we are doing our part to be vigilant to make sure that people do pay even in a self-checkout situation."
During her visit to the FairPrice outlet, Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, acknowledged the need for adjustments during the initial phase of implementing the surcharge.
She highlighted the introduction of bag racks in certain outlets by some supermarkets to facilitate the transition period and noted the progress being made.
"This morning at this supermarket, many people have actually brought their own reusable bags," she said. "I want to really encourage everybody to join us in this effort to reduce waste to safeguard the environment for future generations."
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