levy on plastic bags for more than 10 years,
It has been criticized many times for charging 50 cents per plastic bag, and the effect is gradually decreasing. The plan to optimize the charging of plastic shopping bags will be implemented on December 31. The minimum charge will be doubled from the current 50 cents per plastic bag to 1 yuan. It will start on the same day Cancel the exemption of plastic bags for frozen or frozen food, and tighten the scope of exemption for plastic bags used for hygienic reasons. Only food that is not packaged or not completely contained in any packaging, and non-airtight packaged food and drink takeaways are eligible for plastic bags.
The Environmental Protection Agency will publish leaflets to publicize the new measures, and will send staff to explain the new measures to businesses. There will be a one-month grace period from the effective date to allow citizens and businesses to adapt.
Unpackaged, partially packaged and non-airtightly packaged foods are exempt
On October 19, the Legislative Council passed three pieces of subsidiary legislation on optimizing the charging scheme for plastic shopping bags.
Starting from December 31, the charge for each plastic shopping bag will be doubled from the current minimum of 50 cents to 1 yuan.
After December 31, the scope of exemption for the use of plastic bags due to hygiene will be tightened. Only food that is not packaged (that is, in bulk) or not completely contained in any packaging, and non-airtight packaged food and drink takeaways can be issued plastic bags.
The Environmental Protection Agency explained the relevant measures to the media today (21st). Taking apples as an example, when the merchants do not pack the apples in any way, or only use sponge nets to hold them, they can be exempted.
However, if the apples have been prepackaged and wrapped in any form, they are not exempted and a plastic bag levy of $1 is required.
If the apples are pre-packaged and wrapped in any form, they are not exempted and a plastic bag levy of $1 is required.
(Photo by Ma Weijie)
In terms of food delivery, four conditions are met to be exempted, namely:
- Available for immediate consumption,
- Prepared and sold on the spot,
- The seller intends to be eaten outside the scope of the sales place,
- And not contained in In airtight packaging.
In the case of some exemptions, more than one plastic bag can be obtained. For example, putting multiple foods in the same free plastic bag will damage the food, the free plastic bag is too small or the capacity is insufficient, and the free plastic bag is damaged. Due to risks and other reasons, if the entire batch of food cannot be contained, more than one plastic bag can be obtained.
There will be a one-month grace period for merchants to conduct spot checks after it takes effect
Lu Jiajian, deputy director of the Environmental Protection Department, said that as long as it contains plastic components, it will be regarded as a plastic bag. Although it sounds difficult to distinguish between exemption and non-exemption, as long as you "buy more than one or two times, you will know it."
All the collected fees are included in the hands of the merchants. If the department wants to recover the collected plastic bag fees from the merchants, it will involve a lot of manpower and material resources, which is not cost-effective. The department will advise the merchants to use the collected fees for environmental protection purposes.
Li Rui'an, Chief Environmental Protection Officer (Region) of the Environmental Protection Department, pointed out that the department will conduct spot checks on all merchants in Hong Kong after it takes effect, and observe as customers, and take action if there are violations.
Lu Jiajian said that there will be a one-month grace period for citizens and businesses to adapt.
He also mentioned that many supermarkets provide flat-top fresh-keeping bags for customers to collect by themselves. He believes that merchants should "try not to allow customers to carry them by themselves", and the self-payment areas should also be guarded by staff to prevent customers from collecting plastic bags by themselves. There is a levy paid.
The $1 plastic bag levy came into effect at 12.31, although the $2 amendment was rejected, it was still supported by 28 MPs｜The government decided to increase the plastic bag levy to 1 yuan, and the amount of materials discarded can be reduced by 25%. The goal is to implement the plastic bag levy from 12.31｜Xie Weiquan proposed amendments Increase to $2 Support from the Federation of Trade Unions: House-saving people are used to bringing plastic bags levy | Chen Shaoxiong advocates increasing to $2 to increase the effect: use the "meat red" method to cultivate the habit of plastic-free citizens | The circle estimates the consumption of Hong Kong people in a rainy season 13.36 million umbrella plastic bags urge legislation to ban
