Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to a letter on plastic shopping bag levy

 
Letter to the Editor of SCMP – Response to a letter on plastic shopping bag levy

I am writing to respond to Mr Chris Knop’s article of 28 August 2009, entitled “What happens to the plastic bag levy?” The article was about the environmental levy scheme for plastic shopping bags which commenced operation on 7 July 2009.

The indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags is a visible environmental problem in Hong Kong. The objective of the environmental levy scheme is to address the problem through an economic disincentive. Under the environmental levy scheme, each plastic shopping bag distributed at registered retail outlets is subject to a $0.5 levy. Mr Knop hoped that the levy would be directed into community projects that improve Hong Kong’s environment. We are pleased to confirm that we have already made a $1-billion injection into the Environment and Conservation Fund to support, among other things, publicity and public education on waste reduction, recovery and recycling. This sum far exceeds the estimated levy income that the Government might receive in the future years to come. It underlines our strong commitment in supporting initiatives to improve our environment. The capital injection was made with the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.

As a policy instrument to discourage indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags, the environmental levy scheme also encourages waste reduction through BYOB which is highly consistent with consumer interests. Separately, for hygienic reasons, the levy does not apply to flat-top bags which are commonly distributed for use by shoppers for wrapping food products.

The environmental levy scheme has already been in place for two months. Initial feedback from the community is positive. In particular, increasingly more shoppers are bringing along with them reusable shopping bags. We urge all members of our community to support this meaningful cause. We would also like to thank Mr Knop 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.


Margaret Hsia,
Assistant Director,
Environmental Protection Department