Even though they operate in the consumer market, a number of shops and eateries worldwide are making it a point to draw attention to the need to reduce waste. Such businesses are part of a global movement known as the “zero waste” concept.
While “zero waste” may be an impossible target, the philosophy is to minimise or reduce waste as much as possible. Viewed from the lens of the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – the movement focuses on the front end of how to deal with waste. The “zero waste” term has been used by governments and environmental groups in setting targets and in calling for action to deal with the world’s waste problem.
In response to burgeoning waste and its negative effects, governments have set goals or action plans to cut waste. For example, in January 2018, British Prime Minister Theresa May called for supermarkets to have plastic-free aisles, where items are not sold in plastic packaging, and other measures in a speech outlining a 25-year environmental plan.
Already, more than 40 countries, including China and Rwanda, have fully or partially banned, or taxed single-use plastic bags. However, Singapore is not taking that approach. A 2011 study by the Singapore Environment Council found that three billion plastic bags were used here that year.
Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, noted in March 2018 during the debate on her ministry’s budget that plastic bags are necessary for responsible and hygienic bagging of waste in Singapore’s moist, tropical climate.
Singapore produced about 557,000 tonnes of packaging waste in 2017, an amount that is the equivalent of filling up more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Currently, one of the measures to address packaging waste here is the voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement, which started in 2007 and is now in its second iteration. It was signed by various companies, industry associations, non-governmental organisations, the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore, public waste collectors and the National Environment Agency. As of 28 June 2017, there were 199 signatories that had collectively cut 39,000 tonnes of packaging waste.
Singapore has also been trying to tackle food waste and e-waste.
In terms of e-waste, Singapore generates about 60,000 tonnes a year. To address that, the Government is taking the cue from countries with e-waste legislation such as Sweden, which uses the Extended Producer Responsibility approach. It makes producers responsible for collection, reuse and recycling of their products.
Beyond government action and legislation, ground-up efforts by individuals or green groups towards a “zero waste” lifestyle or culture have also sprung up worldwide, including in Singapore, for example the Bring Your Own initiative and the global ‘Zero Waste’ challenge.
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Source: The Straits Times, 2 April 2018