HK0.50 bag levy should be kept by retailers – Survey
According to a recent consumer survey, the sentiments among retailers are mixed on the recent proposal that the HK$0.50 imposed on plastic bags be kept by the retailers. According to the Greeners Action Survey that involved 990 people, 7 out of 10 people supported expanded the levy to help reduce the usage of plastic bags. However, 46% of them believed that the levy should be kept by the retailers while 38% of those interviewed felt that it should be channelled back to the government. For chain stores and the bigger corporations, 83% felt that the amount should be accumulated and then used for conservation purposes.The levy scheme was implemented in 2009 on July 9 that involved some 3,000 stores and supermarkets around Hong Kong that contributed about HK$5.7 million and HK$6.7 million to the government coffers each quarter and the government is planning to expand the scheme to 6,000 stores. According to Kwok Ying-Ying, the project officer of Greeners Action, the initiative has brought about positive results where the mainland has already reduced the use of plastic bags in the last 3 years by two-thirds. This however is resulting in the rise of usage of non-woven bags which also uses plastic in light of the levy on plastic bags which is an issue that must be addressed.