Yes, you read the headline right: Today is International Plastic Bag Free Day, but it’s not the same as getting plastic bags for free.
It’s the entire opposite.
Here’s what you need to know about this easily-misunderstood day.
Who Started International Plastic Bag Free Day
For the uninitiated, the International Plastic Bag Free Day is exactly what it reads; a day for us to be free of plastic bags.
It was started back in 2008 by Bag Free World, a global movement which aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags.
Observed every year on 3 July, the movement has inspired other countries to join in.
In 2008, Zero Waste Europe launched a campaign against single-use plastic bags on 3 July. In 2015, the European Union also passed several directives to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bags.
What Happens on International Plastic Bag Free Day
There isn’t any specific theme for International Plastic Bag Free Day.
However, many will take the opportunity to spread the message about plastic, such as CNBC and National Today.
Feel strongly about the topic? You can take part in the celebrations by sharing the message with friends and family members
Not too keen to stand out too much? You can also opt to encourage others around you to use reusable bags.
3 July is Also When S’pore Supermarkets Start Charging For Plastic Bags
Back in February 2023, it was announced that 2/3 of supermarkets in Singapore must charge for plastic bags from 3 July.
Since then, the various supermarkets jumped into action to work out a plan.
While not the East Coast plan, NTUC Fairprice and Sheng Siong has come up with different ways to charge for plastic bags.
How It’ll Work For NTUC Fairprice
For NTUC Fairprice, it’s all based on trust for self-checkout machines, with a bit of oversight.
From today, here’s how the self-checkout process will work.
You will carry out your self-checkout process as usual. You’ll still need to scan your own products and there will be a stack of plastic bags available for you to bag your purchases.
What’s different is that you’ll have to scan a barcode located at the bottom left-hand corner of the monitor.
Take three plastic bags? Scan it three times with the handheld scanner. Going for broke and taking five plastic bags? Scan it five times.
The payment screen will reflect the number of plastic bag charges you incur.
Of course, while we say trust, there’ll still be a Fairprice staff in the area to troubleshoot and remind you to pay for plastic bags.
Here’s how the machines work.
When customers go through the self-checkout, they can click the plastic bag icon on the bottom right corner of the screen.
The machine will then dispense the plastic bag(s), which will be priced at $0.05 each.
Customers can also select the number of plastic bags they need based on how many things they have purchased, so don’t worry; you won’t be required to carry two weeks’ worth of groceries home in just one plastic bag.
The plastic bags issued by Sheng Siong only exist in one size, so customers do not have to choose which size they want.
You can find out more here.
