Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to letters on plastic bag levy

 
Letter to the Editor of SCMP – Response to letters on plastic bag levy

I write in response to the letter headlined “Government should scrap this pointless plastic bag levy” on 29 November 2008 by Mr Alex Chu.

The abuse of plastic shopping bags is a visible environmental problem in Hong Kong. Our waste survey conducted at landfills shows that more than eight billion plastic shopping bags are disposed of at our landfills every year. It translates into more than three plastic shopping bags per person per day, which is very high compared with other Asian cities which share similar shopping practice and culture. Indeed, close to 90% of the public consider that there is much room to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags in their daily life.

The objective of the proposed environmental levy scheme is to address the abuse of plastic shopping bags through an economic disincentive. The public are encouraged to bring their own bags at all times to avoid the levy. Unlike a tax, the environmental levy scheme does not aim to raise public revenue. On the contrary, the more successful the environmental levy scheme is, the less public revenue it generates.

Overseas experience suggests that the introduction of an environmental levy at the retail level would reduce the use of plastic shopping bags significantly. It is also reported that similar levy recently introduced in the Mainland has reduced the consumption of plastic shopping bags by some 60%. In devising the environmental levy scheme, we do have the need of environmental hygiene in mind. That is the reason why plastic bags commonly used at supermarkets to wrap fresh produces (i.e. plastic bags without carrying handle) would not be covered by the environmental levy scheme.

While the best way to address the abuse of plastic shopping bags is reduction at source, we agree with Mr Chu that plastic shopping bags should also be reused as many times as possible before using them as garbage bags or putting them into waste separation bins for recycling. This is essentially the core message of our recently launched advertisement, or announcement of public interests, on TV and radio. We are also supporting NGOs to conduct publicity campaigns to promote the message through the Environment and Conservation Fund.

There have been repeated calls for the Government to implement the environmental levy scheme as soon as practicable. Following the enactment of the Product Eco-Responsibility Ordinance in the last legislative year, we will soon be tabling the subsidiary legislation to activate the plastic bag levy as required by the Legislative Council to complete the legislative process. We would like to thank Mr Chu for his on-going interest on the environmental issues arising from the abuse of plastic shopping bags. We look forward to his support to environmental protection in Hong Kong.


Alfred Lee
Assistant Director
Environmental Protection Department