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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, today (June 24) visited a Japanese department store in City Plaza, Taikoo Shing, to see how retailers are preparing for the environmental levy scheme on plastic shopping bags which will come into effect on July 7.
Up to yesterday, more than 2,600 qualified retail outlets have registered under the scheme, representing about 95% of the registration applications received.
¡§I am impressed by the concerted efforts of retailers and their staff to help make the scheme work,¡¨ Mr Yau said after touring the consignment counters and the supermarket in the department store.
Under the scheme, registered retailers are required to charge customers a 50-cent environmental levy for each plastic shopping bag provided, for which they have to keep records and submit returns and payments to the Environmental Protection Department on a quarterly basis.
Prescribed retailers include major and chain supermarkets, convenience stores, personal health and beauty stores, and department stores.
Mr Yau said he was pleased to see that posters were put up inside the department store and stickers and tent cards were placed at the cashier counters to make it easier for customers to know about the levy for each plastic shopping bag that they ask for.
Under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603) and the Product Eco-responsibility (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulation, consignment counters of a third party business operation within a registered retail outlet are exempted from the levy. Exemption stickers will be posted in the vicinity of the consignment areas for easy identification by customers.
¡§The levy scheme provides a direct economic incentive to discourage the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags. People are encouraged to take their own bags at all times to avoid the levy,¡¨ Mr Yau said.
Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:56
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