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Plastic shopping bag (PSB) charging will be fully implemented starting April 1 to promote reduction in the use of PSBs. Members of the public may avoid the PSB charge and at the same time help protect our environment by bringing their own bags when they go shopping.
From April 1, all retailers in Hong Kong, irrespective of scale of operation and business nature, will have to charge customers not less than 50 cents for each PSB provided in retail sales of goods, save for situations where there is exemption. The PSB charge will be retained by the shops.
Under the Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 (Amendment Ordinance), PSBs used for food hygiene reasons, like containing a food item which is unpackaged or contained in non-airtight packaging or in frozen/chilled state, can be exempted from the PSB charge. PSBs used for the pre-packaging of goods will also be exempted, while bags provided with services fall outside the scope of regulation.
An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman today (March 15) said that the exemptions have adequately catered for the daily needs of the general public and the common trade practice of the businesses. "Although some PSBs are exempted from the PSB charge, both the retailers and the public should minimise plastic bag usage to maintain the good practice of 'use less, waste less'," said the spokesman.
After the commencement of the new initiative, EPD officers will conduct random checks and mystery shopping at retail shops in various districts to ascertain whether they have complied with the new requirements. Pursuant to the Amendment Ordinance, retailers contravening the requirements may be liable to a fixed penalty of $2,000 or even prosecutions.
In the first month after the Amendment Ordinance becomes effective, EPD will first give verbal warnings to retailers who contravene the requirements. Enforcement action will be followed should the retailers concerned fail to rectify the non-compliance. Starting from the second month, no prior warnings will be given by the EPD and enforcement action will be taken should any irregularities are found.
Since the passage of the Amendment Ordinance by the Legislative Council in March last year, the EPD has been actively publicising the new measures to shop owners and the general public through various channels and public education campaigns. To enable the retail trade to get well prepared for the implementation, the EPD has so far held more than 60 briefing sessions covering 60 trade associations to explain the legislative requirements and provide advice.
Since January, the EPD's personnel has been paying district visits to foster better understanding of PSB charging among local retailers. Apart from distributing publicity materials, the EPD's personnel has reminded them of the need to comply with the new requirements from April 1. Publicity stickers produced by the EPD have also been provided to retail shops for posting at a conspicuous place to remind their customers and staff to observe the environmental law.
Targeting the general public, the EPD has collaborated with the 18 District Councils to jointly organise district briefing sessions and over 100 promotional activities in different districts. In addition, three episodes of announcement of public interest featuring the scope and the exemption arrangements of PSB charging have been produced. They are being broadcast on TV, radio, the Internet and public transport. Advertisements have also been placed in shopping centres, housing estates and other outdoor advertising platforms.
In collaboration with various green groups, since last December, the EPD has been holding various educational and promotional activities in different communities, schools, public housing estates and popular public areas. The EPD is also promoting the message at the airport and other boundary control points to keep visitors informed of the new measure. With the full implementation of PSB charging approaching, these publicity and public education efforts will be stepped up progressively and will continue after the commencement to help the public to get used to the new measure as soon as possible.
For more information about PSB charging, please visit the EPD's featured webpage: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/psb_charging, or contact the enquiry hotline at 3152 2299.
Ends/Sunday, March 15, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:02
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