Disposable Carrier Bags Saved Since Introduction of Mandatory Charge and Plans to Include All Retailers

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what is the estimated number of disposable carrier bags that have been saved since the mandatory disposable carrier bag charge was introduced in larger supermarkets on 3 July 2023; and (b) whether there are any plans to expand the scheme to all retailers.

Since 3 July 2023, supermarket operators with an annual turnover of more than $100 million are required to charge a minimum of five cents per disposable carrier bag provided at their supermarket outlets. In the first year of implementation, supermarket operators who started charging for disposable carrier bags reported a 70% to 80% reduction in the number of bags issued at their supermarket outlets.

Some non-obligated retailers have voluntarily implemented a bag charge or have stopped providing disposable carrier bags. There are currently no plans to expand the mandatory bag charge to all retailers.