Singapore joins push for disposable bag fees to reduce waste

Traditional grocer selling sauces, spices and dried goods in Tiong Bahru Market, Singapore. - Bloomberg

SINGAPORE, March 7 (Bloomberg): Singapore plans to charge consumers for disposable bags at grocery stores starting in the middle of next year as the land-scarce nation seeks to slow the amount of waste that’s forecast to fill up its only landfill by 2035.

Supermarkets with annual revenue of more than S$100 million ($73 million) will be required to levy a charge of at least 5 cents on bags of all types, from paper to plastic to biodegradables.