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Written by: Lao Minyi
2021-01-24 00:00
Last update date: 2021-01-24 00:00
The plastic bag levy has been implemented for more than 11 years, and Hong Kong people are no strangers to a bag of 5 cents.
The Secretary for the Environment, Huang Jinxing, has already foreseen that the increase in the levy to $1 is a direction for consideration.
However, the public consultation on the review of the levy plan has been delayed. In the latest response to the "Hong Kong 01" inquiry, the Environmental Protection Department did not mention the adjustment of the fee level. It only said that the authorities will study the scope of exemption of the levy plan and in the case of exemption. The number of plastic bags that can be distributed, etc.
It is understood that in response to the deteriorating economic environment, the authorities plan not to levy plastic bags and maintain at least 5 cents per bag.
Future adjustments will also mainly start from the scope of exemption, such as flat bags containing frozen food, fruits and vegetables, and additional plastic bags for buying unsealed bread, which may no longer be distributed free of charge in the future.
According to the news, the authorities are expected to start public consultation on the adjustment plan of the plastic bag levy as soon as this year or later.
In 2019, 4.07 billion plastic bags were discarded in landfills, and 1.5 plastic bags per person were discarded every day.
(Data Picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)
Related reports: Plastic bag levy | Convenience store bag disposal volume has dropped by 90%
Huang Jinxing has repeatedly mentioned the intention to adjust the plastic bag levy plan. In June last year, the Environmental Protection Department pointed out that the scope of the review by the authorities is "from the scope of exemption (for example, regarding plastic bags containing frozen and frozen food), under exemption In terms of the number of plastic shopping bags that can be distributed and the level of charges, we will study how to further reduce the use of plastic shopping bags," and plan to consult the public on the results of the review in the second half of last year.
After more than half a year, consultation on the adjustment of the plastic bag levy plan has not been seen so far.
In its latest reply to the "Hong Kong 01" inquiry, the Environmental Protection Department did not mention the review of the "fee level".
The spokesperson said that the 2019 plastic bag disposal data reflects that the public has increased awareness of reducing the use of plastic bags, but believes that there is still room for improvement in the plan, and the public will be consulted on recommendations in due course to chart the way forward.
Flat bags are often found in the fruit section of supermarkets. Since they are free to pick up, many citizens pick up more than one at a time.
(Profile picture)
Disposal of flat bags is up to 670 million a year
Since July 7, 2009, the Environmental Protection Department has implemented the first-phase plan commonly known as "plastic bag levy", covering more than 3,000 retail outlets, mainly large supermarket chains, convenience stores, and health care and cosmetics stores.
Starting from April 1, 2015, the plan is to expand to all retail locations.
According to government plastic bag disposal data, 4.07 billion plastic bags were disposed of at landfills in 2019, that is, 1.5 plastic bags per capita are discarded every day.
The figure decreased by nearly 10% year-on-year, but it was still 3.6% higher than in 2015.
As for the disposal volume classified as "other" (that is, plastic bags that are not marked with the identification of the source of the branch), the disposal amount accounts for nearly 80% of the total.
Among them, the "flat pockets" that are exempted from fees and are "renminded" in the fresh food section of the supermarket are generally used to contain unpackaged or non-airtight packaged food or frozen food. The average disposal volume in the past few years has reached 670 million.
The figure is 8% lower than the 730 million announced last year, but it continues to top the list.
The second and third places are from food-related retail. They are restaurants and delicatessens (410 million), and bakery stores (290 million). Although the amount of disposal decreased by about 15% year-on-year, the amount of bread bag disposal No year has been lower than the level of the first year of the levy.
The most obvious decline was in convenience store plastic bags (see separate draft), which decreased by more than 90% year-on-year; followed by electrical, electronic and telecommunications product stores, which decreased by 75% year-on-year.
Although there is a downward trend in overall plastic bag disposal, there are still two categories of plastic bags showing an increase, including plastic bags for books, stationery and gift shops, and plastic bags for supermarkets, which increased by 40.4% and 5.7% year-on-year respectively.
Disposal of plastic bags in restaurants is at a high level in the past 3 years
After the implementation of the plastic bag levy, the number of plastic bags abandoned in the landfills of restaurants and deli in 2019 is second only to 2017 and 2018.
According to Huang Jielong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sufulou Group, in the early years, diners asked for 10 plastic bags at a time due to the exemption of charges. When they were used as shopping bags, they charged themselves to reduce excessive abuse and attracted a lot of criticism. , Even complained, "Environmental protection, reluctant to accept it, offending classmates will have to accept it." Finally, the usage fell.
He estimated that the increase in the amount of plastic bags disposed of in restaurants is related to the business of tourists. When tourists and economic activities decrease in 2019, the amount of plastic bags disposed of will also decrease.
Huang Jiahe, president of the Federation of Catering Industry Association, believes that the situation will be worse last year and this year, due to the ban on dinner in the evening market due to the epidemic, and the citizens are forced to buy takeaways. The amount of plastic bags in the industry will be used 2 to 3 times; even if citizens are encouraged to take takeaways Few people pick up and bring their own bags to buy takeaways. In addition to cost considerations, most restaurants only provide ordinary plastic bags.
Facing the poor economy and business environment, he believes that all sectors are exhausted and the increase in the levy on plastic bags will only arouse criticism. He hopes that the government will not add a burden to the industry.
Under the epidemic, the amount of plastic bags and disposable tableware has increased dramatically, causing a glue disaster.
(Data Picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)
Ring group means that the 0.5 yuan levy has expired
Zhu Hanqiang, director of the Green Earth Environmental Initiative, believes that the purpose of the plastic bag levy is to change the behavior of citizens and reduce the use of bags, but official data shows that the effect of the 5 cents plastic bag tax has been offset. If the price increase is abandoned this time, it may have to wait another 10 The opportunity to adjust the fees was only in the first year of the year, which is a disguised "self-breaking arm."
He believes that the society is concerned about the crisis of plastic flooding, but at the same time it should bear the responsibility, bluntly saying that "the amount of charge is not directly related to the purse."
He also pointed out that the current exemption scope is too wide, and the regulated plastic bags account for only one quarter. It is necessary for the authorities to tighten the exemption scope and strengthen law enforcement, and it is necessary to clearly explain the exemption boundaries and categories.
Chen Kechun, director of the Greenpeace project, also believes that when many countries formulate plastic policies, for example, Taiwan plans to completely ban plastic shopping bags, all kinds of disposable tableware, and single-use take-out beverage cups and plastic straws in 2030.
However, Hong Kong is still stagnating. I hope that the government will set a timetable for plastic removal as soon as possible and speed up the implementation of garbage levy.
Members of the Legislative Council questioned the low level of plastic bag levy Huang Jinxing: The public consultation is in full swing this year
The plastic bag levy will be reviewed in the middle of this year. Huang Jinxing: The five cents levy has not changed for ten years and can be considered to be increased to one yuan
[Plastic bag levy for ten years] The amount of bread bag disposal is listed in the top three chain stores, and one or more bags are indiscriminately
[Plastic bag levy for ten years] The Environmental Protection Agency launches "secondary bags", supermarkets and convenience stores "one bag for dual use"
[Plastic bag levy for ten years] Overdistribution of environmentally-friendly bags causes disasters, abandoning thousands of them every year, becoming the source of environmental disaster
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