Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to letter about recycling of plastic bags

 
Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to letter about recycling of plastic bags

I write in response to the letter headlined “Forced recycling of bags could defeat purpose of legislation” on 16 April 2008 by Mr. Alex F. T. Chu.

As we have explained earlier, the disposal figure of more than three plastic shopping bags per person per day is obtained from an on-site waste survey conducted at landfills and refuse transfer stations. The methodology of the survey is the same as that of the comprehensive waste survey conducted annually by the Environmental Protection Department. The disposal figure is indeed very high, even compared with Asian cities which share similar shopping practice and culture. It is thus not surprising that some 90% of Hong Kong people agree that there is room in reducing the use of plastic shopping bags in their daily life, and that some 66% of the public supports the introduction of an environmental levy on plastic shopping bags to reduce their use. It is for this reason that we introduced the Product Eco-responsibility Bill into the Legislative Council in January this year to provide the legal basis for the implementation of the levy scheme.

Indeed, the best solution to our waste problem is to reduce waste at source. This is especially true for plastic shopping bags, which can easily be avoided by bringing our own bags. As for plastic shopping bags that have been obtained, the public should reuse them as many times as possible, before recycling them through the “brown” waste separation bins or using them as garbage bags. Waste reduction, reuse and recycling are complementary and should be practised as an integral part of a green lifestyle. In terms of priority, Mr. Chu is right to point out that recycling should only be encouraged after all possible ways to reduce and reuse have been exhausted

We thank Mr. Chu again for his keen interest in environmental issues associated with plastic shopping bags. We look forward to the public’s continuing support for the early passage of the Bill and the implementation of the levy scheme.

Best regards,

Alfred Lee
Assistant Director
Environmental Protection Department