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

Application for Registration

Display of Registration Certificate

Application for Exemption

Submission of Quarterly Return and Payment

Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags - Introduction

Hong Kong is facing an imminent and serious waste problem. In 2008, the total amount of solid waste disposed of at landfills averaged at 13,503 tonnes per day. Among these wastes, it is estimated that over eight billion plastic shopping bags are disposed of at our landfills every year. This translates into more than three plastic shopping bags per person per day, which apparently go beyond our needs.

The public widely recognize the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags as a major and visible environmental problem in Hong Kong. In a two-month public opinion survey conducted in 2007, a majority of the respondents agreed that there was room to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.