EPD - Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags

The Scope

The Levy

Plastic Shopping Bags Subject to the Environmental Levy

The Product List

The Administration of the Levy Scheme

General

Type 1 Exemption – Exemption for Non-specified Goods

Type 2 Exemption – Exemption for Third Party Operator

Application for Registration

Completing the Registration Form

Certificate of Registration

Change of Information

Variation of Exemption

Deregistration of Registered Retailer / Registered Retail Outlet

Enquiries

Forms for Download

Filing the “Quarterly Return and Payment” Form

Completing the “Quarterly Return and Payment” form

Levy Scheme Implementation Dates

Scope of Levy Scheme

Exemptions under Levy Scheme

Implementation

For Trade

General Matters

Levy Scheme Implementation Dates

Registration Matters

Display of Registration Certificate

Application for Exemption

Submission of Quarterly Return and Payment

Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags - FAQ - Public

I. General Matters

Q.1	What is the objective of the environmental levy scheme on plastic shopping bags (the Levy Scheme)?
A.1	The objective of the Levy Scheme is to provide a direct economic incentive to discourage the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags. The public are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags to avoid the levy.

Q.2	What is the amount of the environmental levy?
A.2	Registered retailers must charge at least 50 cents for each plastic shopping bag provided to their customers.

Q.3	Can a registered retailer pay the environmental levy for a customer?
A.3	A registered retailer cannot pay the environmental levy for his/her customer.

Q.4	What would happen if a customer refuses to pay the levy?
A.4	A registered retailer shall not provide plastic shopping bags to a customer if the customer refuses to pay a levy.

Q.5

How does a customer know which retail outlets are covered by the Levy Scheme?

A.5

For retail outlets registered under the Levy Scheme, they will:

have a certificate of registration displayed at the outlet;
have their names and addresses maintained in EPD's website;
display tent cards and stickers bearing the Levy Scheme's logo (appended below).

Image of Tent Card with Scheme Logo	Image of Sticker with Scheme Logo

All tent cards and stickers are restricted for use by registered retailers in their outlets registered under the Levy Scheme.

Q.6	What should a customer do if he or she has doubt on whether a retail outlet is a registered retail outlet?
A.6	He/She may call EPD Hotline for direct enquiry or visit EPD’s website where a register of registered retailers and registered retail outlets is kept for public information.

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