SINGAPORE — A national campaign kicks off today to get Singaporeans to use their own reusable items such as bags and food containers when they shop or dine outside. This is to cut back on the use of plastic disposables, which are harmful to the environment, and to reduce waste. 

Those who support the campaign will be offered incentives such as discounts and free food items at supermarkets, cafes and food outlets. 

There are 14 retailers, which together operate more than 220 shops in Singapore, taking part in the Bring Your Own (BYO) Singapore campaign. It was launched on Thursday (Aug 31) by non-governmental organisation Zero Waste SG, in partnership with the labour movement’s youth wing Young NTUC, office-equipment company Ricoh Asia Pacific, and the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Participating retailers include supermarket chains such as Cold Storage and NTUC FairPrice, and food establishments such as Paul bakery outlets and Joe & Dough cafes. 

At FairPrice’s 141 outlets, for example, shoppers who use their own reusable bags will get 10 cents off their shopping bill with a minimum spending of S$10. 

At eatery Aloha Poke’s five branches, customers who take away food in their own reusable containers get an extra serving of a “superfood” item worth S$1, for free. Homegrown cafe chain Joe & Dough will take 50 cents off the bill when customers use a reusable cup or bottle at its nine outlets.

The campaign, which runs till the end of the year, hopes to get 500 retail outlets on board, and to reduce the use of disposables by one million pieces this year.

Retailers taking part will keep track of the number of plastic disposables that they manage to cut back.

Mr Eugene Tay, executive director of Zero Waste SG, said that rewards are being used at the start to get the momentum going and to cultivate the “BYO habit” among more Singaporeans. “After some time, this habit should hopefully continue, even without retailers providing incentives.”

Lawyer Lynn Poon, 28, who patronises Aloha Poke every fortnight, agreed: “It will get the ball rolling. Eventually, it should become a habit for people.”

However, one executive, who gave her name as just Ms Ann, 26, said that she supports using fewer plastic bags, but she would not use her own reusable containers to take away food because washing up is a hassle.

Mr Tay said that at the end of the campaign, the organisation will study the need to extend it if the target is not met, or look into other ways to cultivate the habit of reducing plastic waste among the population. 

Plastic waste, which includes take-away cups and plastic bags, is one of the most common forms of waste found at Singapore’s incineration plants. Last year, there were 822,200 tonnes of plastic waste generated here, with just 7 per cent of it being recycled, NEA figures showed.

Burning plastics produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change, Zero Waste SG said.

Plastic disposables are also detrimental to wildlife, human health and the environment. Being light, they wind up in waterways and the sea as litter, harming marine creatures that ingest them. Small plastic fragments could also find their way into the food chain of humans.