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Plastic Bag Levy|Market Vendors’ Loan Grants Guide Supermarkets to Four Ways to Respond: The Most Difficult is to Identify Exemptions

2022-12-29T23:14:51.469Z


The plastic bag levy, which has been implemented for more than 13 years, will usher in changes on Saturday (31st). In addition to increasing the levy to 1 yuan, it will also tighten a number of exemptions. YATA Department Store, which operates the supermarket business, currently sells an average of 450 per day per branch


The plastic bag levy, which has been implemented for more than 13 years, will usher in changes on Saturday (31st). In addition to increasing the levy to 1 yuan, it will also tighten a number of exemptions.

YATA Department Store, which operates the supermarket business, currently sells an average of 450 plastic bags per store per day and distributes more than 3,000 free flat bags.

CEO Huang Sili expects that after the levy is raised to 1 yuan, the amount of plastic bags distributed can be reduced, but believes that the biggest difficulty is to distinguish which products are exempted: "The word "full bag" is the most difficult to get. If there is a hole in the box, do you want to account for it? You have to explain it clearly to your colleagues.”


In response to the plastic bag levy adjustment measures, she pointed out that YATA will introduce four measures. In addition to strengthening staff training, it will also remind customers and encourage them to bring their own shopping bags.

However, some stall owners who opened frozen meat shops in wet markets criticized the lack of government guidance and worried that there would be confusion when it was implemented.


Further reading:

Plastic bag levy|Frozen food is no longer exempted

Plastic bag levy|From 12.31, can merchants charge more than 1 yuan?

New example point by point deconstruction

▼Plastic bag fee will be raised to 1 yuan from December 31▼


+13

According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the number of plastic bags disposed of in landfills has shown an upward trend in recent years.

Huang Sili, CEO of YATA Department Store, said that the distribution of plastic bags in her company’s supermarkets shows that the distribution of plastic bags this year has decreased by 9% compared with last year, while last year compared with 2020, there was a 6% drop. YATA's customer base is mostly young people, who support and agree with the concept of environmental protection.

From tomorrow onwards, free flat bags will no longer be issued for frozen meat purchases. Huang Sili pointed out that at present, each branch of YATA Supermarket distributes more than 3,000 flat bags on average every day, and some customers ask for more than one; Bags, each branch sells an average of 450 bags per day.

Huang Sili also pointed out that many customers put convenience first and still insist on asking for free plastic bags: "(Customers) will think that it is really easy for you to give me a plastic bag. I am a loyal fan and I will give you a plastic bag. No way?" She described that the current frontline staff often face pressure, and recalled her personal experience. She said with a smile that in the past "Yata Shopping Promotion Day", she worked as a cashier and did not pay attention to the purchases made by customers. The natto is a frozen food, so no flat bag is provided.

As a result, the customer was furious and yelled at her for more than three minutes: "All the way to collect money and make troubles, "Can I get the bag? Do you want to save money? Tell your manager to come out, I will really complain to you.""

Regarding the new plastic bag levy measures that will be implemented tomorrow, Huang Sili thinks that it is relatively clear, but the most difficult thing is to distinguish which products are exempt from getting free plastic bags.

She also estimated that after the levy is raised to 1 yuan, the amount of plastic bags can be reduced.

As for the fee collected by YATA, it will be used for promotional activities related to environmental protection, such as discounts for purchasing reusable bags.

A real-life example is that I was fooled by one of the customers on the shopping promotion day last time, because the customer bought a box of natto. I didn’t see clearly that the box of natto was not a refrigerated food, so I didn’t put it in a flat pocket... Customer After asking for a flat bag, I have already put it in, but because of such a simple thing, I think he has troubled me for three minutes: "Why don't you get a bag?"

Do you want to save money?

Tell your manager to come out, I really complain to you.

』Huang Sili, Chief Executive Officer of YATA Department Store

In addition, YATA plans to introduce four measures to deal with the new measures during the transition period, including posting posters and leaflets in the store, hoping to let customers know that the new measures will be implemented, and will focus on the frozen meat area to remind customers to buy Free flat pockets will no longer be issued for products such as frozen meat.

YATA will also offer discounts for shopping bags, including members who can accumulate points to redeem ice packs. Huang Sili said: "The first time a customer comes to buy snow-covered chicken wings, there is no free bag. In fact, they can buy an ice pack. The next day they buy pork chops and can continue use."

She said that she has provided training to front-line staff to help them think what goods are exempt under the new measures: "To be honest, my colleagues really have a lot of things to remember, and it depends on us and our colleagues Training and communication.” She gave examples including teaching frontline staff how to deal with customers asking for free plastic bags: “How to convey the message in a polite manner to the customers, especially the frontline staff are busy, and the back line staff are all busy. It’s not short.” Yada has also made a reminder card and placed it at the cash register so that employees can check the exemption items at any time.

Ada, who opened a frozen meat shop in Lok Fu Market, criticized the lack of government guidelines and was worried that there would be confusion when it was implemented tomorrow.

(Photo by Lu Yiming)

A member of the Legislative Council proposed to raise the plastic bag levy to $2. Will it affect the supermarket industry?

Huang Sili pointed out that no matter how much the fee is, I believe it will not affect the implementation. She emphasized that the most important thing is that the entire industry cooperates with the fee: "If there are retailers who are more relaxed and not serious, the retailers who implement it very strictly will cause trouble to customers. Die, the more expensive the bags are, the more trouble there will be. If I (Yita) have to do it seriously, it won’t be very useful.”

Large supermarkets can provide training for their employees, but some market stall owners are worried that there will be confusion when it is implemented tomorrow.

Ada, who runs a frozen meat shop in Lok Fu Market, said that she has already had disputes with customers over plastic bags. Many customers think that market stalls do not need to pay the levy for plastic bags: Whether it’s business or not, and you don’t know what to do for the sake of gaining or losing customers, it’s pointless to talk about it.”

Ada also criticized the lack of guidance from the government and the lack of understanding of the scope of exemptions under the new measures. He hoped that the government would explain more to merchants in the market: "Does the chilled meat wrapped in plastic wrap get plastic bags? Don't let customers cheat Type, startled water leakage."

The Environmental Protection Agency pointed out at a press conference a few days ago that it will print leaflets to publicize the new measures, and will send staff to explain the new measures to businesses. There will be a grace period of one month from the effective date to allow citizens and businesses to adapt.

Plastic bag levy︱One article to see a fresh example Buy paper-wrapped pears without free plastic bags Buy fish and crabs and get two plastic bags for free︱Two major supermarkets and YATA are actively cooperating with Wellcome to put away the self-service cash register flat pocket plastic bag levy The fee︱From 12.31 onwards, frozen food will be raised to 1 yuan, no longer free and the scope of exemption will be tightened|Government decides to increase 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|Advocate an increase to 2 yuan raised discussion Xie Weiquan: Citizens have a choice but don't want a plastic bag The plastic bag levy is proposed to be doubled to 1 yuan starting from 12.31 and the two exemptions will be cancelled.

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-12-29

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