Topic: Environment tax on disposable items

Project 2007 · Country: Singapore Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 51

I'm dismayed by the number of disposable cups being used in office. There are some contract programmers who prefer to use such cups instead of bringing their own cups because they probably view their jobs as temporary and they don't want the "hassle" (!!!) of bringing their own cups. Let's implement an environment tax on the number of disposable items used in office!

L Tan

scxiaoqian · Country: Singapore Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

I agree with Lionel Tan on this issue. I tink there should be a higher price to pay for such disposable items so that Singaporeans will be more aware of their "inconsiderate" actions.

For a start, I think we should impose higher costs for people who purchase food from food courts/ kopitiams and taking it away, especially for those in the heartlands. Customers just need to pay an additional 20cents more for a plastic container, which is non-biodegradable. How difficult it is to bring a container (those durable and reusable kind such as Tupperware) from your very own home before you go down to the hawker centre to buy yr rice or noodles?

I think it's a matter of habit. So for a start, I think hawkers should start charging customers at $1 for these plastic containers. By charging merely 20cents, it doesn't hurt.

QuestionKing · Country: Singapore Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

$1!! A little drastic and Singaporeans will surely complain and I will be one of them. Charging $0.20 is already pretty disgusting and I believe that has deter a lot people to "da pao" (me included). How about a campaign like "Da Pao with your container week". Go gradual.... we Singaporean are easy people and sure will work over time. A little small step at a time, no drastic measure please!

sutradara · Country: Singapore Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 23

environmental tax??it coulde be a hassle to implement but a good idea...still education is they way to go..

hmm....20 cents wont hurt?that would depend on which income group you are refering to..

agreed that it would be easier to implement measure in small steps rather than a drastic one..

VL · Country: Singapore Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

Perhaps instead of imposing a tax, we can give a discount when people bring their containers to take-away food? But we have to bear in mind the cost of water used to wash the containers. To impose a higher tax or cost for those who takeaway may be too "cruel" as we take-away when we cannot afford the time to sit and enjoy the food at the stall, if we are to blame for it, wouldn't it be too cruel and unfair? Who does not want to eat the hot and fragrant food served right from the stove, but rather choose to eat take-aways unless we have no choice right?