I welcome the Government’s effort to tackle plastic waste (Move to get retailers to limit plastic bag usage; June 6). In our Singapore society, plastic bags are given out too freely and excessive packaging is the norm. The damage to the environment is simply appalling and unsustainable. The Government has been addressing the issue of the use of excessive plastic bags and packaging, through public education and guidance for retailers. However, I fear that with the present approach, it will be a long time before there will be results seen. Other countries have tackled the issue of excessive plastic bag use and packaging through legislation, and this has proven to be more effective. I urge the Government to consider legislation on excessive packaging and to impose a plastic bag levy, which are the approaches adopted by other countries and are empirically effective.... Continue Reading