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Following is a question by Hon Kam Nai-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (February 3):
Question:
It has been reported that members of the public have to pay an environmental levy of 50 cents for each plastic bag taken from registered retailers when shopping at their retail outlets since the implementation of the Environmental Levy Scheme for Plastic Shopping Bags in July 2009, and the number of plastic bags distributed by supermarkets and convenience stores has significantly reduced by 80% to 90%, while the total amount of levy income collected by the Government in the first three months was over $6 million. Regarding the implementation of mandatory producer responsibility schemes for various products, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total amount of levy income expected to be collected in the first year of the implementation of the aforesaid Scheme; how the Government will dispose of the income, whether it will use such income for waste and pollutant treatment so as to give effect to the "polluters pay" principle, as well as use it for carrying out other environmental protection work (e.g. paying for the operating expenses of landfills, subsidising the recycling industry and promoting environmental protection);
(b) whether the Government will formulate any policy and measure to encourage the recovery of plastic shopping bags; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether the Government will implement mandatory producer responsibility schemes for products such as vehicle tyres, glass containers, drink containers, electrical and electronic products, and rechargeable batteries; if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a) With reference to the quarterly returns submitted to the Government by registered retailers, the total amount of levy income expected to be collected in the first year after the implementation of the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags (PSBs) is about $27 million. The objective of the Environmental Levy Scheme is to reduce the indiscriminate use of PSBs through a direct economic disincentive. It is not meant to raise revenue. In fact, the more successful the scheme is, the less revenue it generates. To underline the Government's commitment in environmental protection, $1 billion has been injected into the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) in January 2008 before the implementation of the Environmental Levy Scheme to support various environmental and conservation initiatives as well as public education programmes organised by local non-profit making organisations. Since January 2008, over 600 organisations have received funding support from the ECF for some 680 programmes.
(b) In December 2005, the Government published "A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste", setting out a comprehensive strategy for municipal solid waste management in Hong Kong in the subsequent ten years. It introduces producer responsibility schemes as a key policy tool for waste reduction, recovery and recycling. As far as PSBs are concerned, apart from reducing PSB distribution at source through the imposition of an environmental levy, we have been encouraging the public by ways of publicity and public education to reduce, reuse and recycle PSBs. These include relevant educational programmes and competitions organised by local groups with funding support from the ECF. Separately, we have offered assistance in the installation of waste recycling facilities, say through the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste. It is a territory-wide scheme seeking to encourage and facilitate the public to practice source separation of waste, including PSBs no longer reusable, for the recovery of the recyclables.
(c) In July 2008, the Legislative Council enacted the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap 603) to provide a legal framework for introducing producer responsibility schemes for various products including PSBs, vehicle tyres, electrical and electronic equipment, packaging materials, beverage containers and rechargeable batteries. Apart from an environmental levy, a producer responsibility scheme may also include a product take-back scheme, a deposit-refund scheme, a recycling fee and restricting the disposal of certain products at designated waste disposal facilities. Specific legislative provisions are required to provide for the details of any mandatory producer responsibility schemes for the aforesaid products.
Further to the Environmental Levy Scheme PSBs, we are conducting public consultation on a producer responsibility scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment. The public consultation will end on April 30, 2010. We will take into account views collected to develop the details of the scheme. Separately, we have been promoting recycling for the other relevant products on a voluntary basis and would consider the need of mandatory schemes at the next step taking into account practical circumstances.
Ends/Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:03
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