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May 14, 2015
Kitty Wong Sin Ting (09422196) and Alik Lee Lik Hang (09409424)
POLS 7050POLS 7050Public Public
AdministrationAdministration
POLS 7050POLS 7050Public Public
AdministrationAdministrationWays to Optimize our Ways to Optimize our Environmental Levy Environmental Levy
Scheme Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bagson Plastic Shopping Bags
Ways to Optimize our Ways to Optimize our Environmental Levy Environmental Levy
Scheme Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bagson Plastic Shopping Bags
BackgroundBackground
• Indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags as a major and visible environmental problem
• > 8 billion plastic bags are disposed to our landfill yearly
• in order words, everyone of us uses three plastic bags in every single day
About the SchemeAbout the Scheme
• change the public’s habit
use of plastic shopping bags
• encourage more environmentally responsible behaviour through “direct polluter pays”
• improve the public’s environmental consciousness
As planned, the levy scheme will undergo
another phase,so, what should be
implemented?
Current IssueCurrent Issue
•use of substitute increases
•consumers take even more plastic bags from those unregistered retailers
•consumers are trying to avoid such levy
RecommendationRecommendation
• suggest supermarkets not to place their “flat bag for fruit” openly
• eliminate the issue of unfair competitiveness
• change the habit of purchasing
• strengthen understand the concept of “polluter pays”
comprehensive levy scheme for plastic bags should be introduced
Positive outcome from Ireland
Positive outcome from Ireland
DifficultiesDifficulties
• Retailer– difficulty on applying
the levy scheme– insufficient manpower
to administrate
• Plastic bag manufacturer– strike on their industry– unemployment issue
• Government– cost on staff
employment, law enforcement, researches, and administrative cost
• Consumer– lack of convenience– affect the grass-root
of the society
Cost-and-benefit
Evaluation
Cost-and-benefit
Evaluation• subsidize affected industry • bare-in-mind the principle of the levy
scheme :
ConclusionConclusion
• in short term, several challenges would be arose, like problem of market shifting, administrative cost of retailers as well as government
• levy Scheme for Plastic Bag is recommended to apply to all retailers / stores
ConclusionConclusion
• for long term, a positive outcome is likely to be happen, not only on the matter of misuse of plastic bags, but also the other similar products
• introducing the levy scheme, not only for our own, but also for our next generation; not only for Hong Kong, but also for the whole ecosystem
References:
Assessment of Benefits and Effects of the Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme by GHK (Hong Kong) Ltd.http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/prob_solutions/files/GHK_study.pdf
Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags by Environmental Protection Departmenthttp://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/psb/en/index.html
Plastic shopping bag levy yields positive results by Environmental Protection Departmenthttp://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200911/02/P200911020245.htm
Plastic Bag : Friend or Foe?http://www.plasticbageconomics.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=40
Plastic Bags by Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Governmenthttp://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Waste/PlasticBags/