Saturday, 19 September 2015
URWA's Code of Practice
URWA's Code of Practice
The Uganda Retailers and Wholesalers Association (URWA) launched its Good Retail Practices and Standards Scheme at its 5th Annual General Meeting. Retailers who adopt and adhere to URWA's Code of Practice may display the "Good Retail Practices and Standards" logo (see below) within their stores. Retailers wishing to sign up to the scheme may contact us via email for more information.
URWA's Code of Practice as ratified at the 5th AGM:
1. Itemized Receipts: Always provide the customer with a proper receipt for any purchase of goods. The receipt should clearly state each good sold, and the price for each item.
2. Goods Refund / Replacement /Returns Policy: Clearly state your refund policy for the goods you sell at the time of sale. Do so in writing. This may be via an easily visible signage at the point of sale, or on the receipt issued to the customer.
3. Price Tagging: Price tag or have shelf tickets for individual items or exhibited /display items, making the tag or ticket easily visible in a prominent place.
4. Pricing: Be aware of the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) for the product you are selling, as the RRP will be taken into consideration when investigating cases of overcharging, and it will be used as the basis for price consideration. Members are advised to exercise valid constraints on the level of mark-ups.
5. Verify Goods before processing the customer's payment: Verify the goods are in-stock, are in working condition (where applicable), and that you are able to fulfill the customer's order in full.
Electrical/Electronics Goods Retailers: Ensure warranty and guarantee cards are included, along with parts and accessories that are indicated in the standard package specified by the OEM.
6. Misrepresentation: Do not misrepresent the customer by falsifying advertising, information, publicity materials, promotion, and / or other publicity materials.
7. Anti-Touting: Do not engage in or support any form of touting of services and / or products, or similar, where touting may be defined as soliciting customers or patronage, especially in a brazen way.
8. Legislation :
(i) Adhere to all laws and regulations relating to the sale of goods. In addition, do not engage in any unfair practices as set out in the second schedule of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (www.mtic.go.ug, look under "Legislation")
ii) To comply with the Competition Laws as set out by the Competition Commission of Uganda. Businesses are not to engage in anti-competitive business practices such as price fixing or abuse market position through exploitative behaviour.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Dont Be Left in the Dark on 17th June 2015 Digital Migration Deadline
Dont Be Left in the Dark on 17th June
2015 Digital Migration
Deadline
Dear Customer
With our Local Channels UCC Approved (Unlocked) Decoder (DVB-T2 Set Top Box @150,000/=), you can watch 28 Local and International Channels without paying even a single coin to anyone. Even when UCC Switches of all Analog TVs on 17th June 2015, you will still be able to watch all the channels very clearly using the Latest Digital TV (DVB-T2) technology.
Dear Customer
With our Local Channels UCC Approved (Unlocked) Decoder (DVB-T2 Set Top Box @150,000/=), you can watch 28 Local and International Channels without paying even a single coin to anyone. Even when UCC Switches of all Analog TVs on 17th June 2015, you will still be able to watch all the channels very clearly using the Latest Digital TV (DVB-T2) technology.
Below are the 23 Local and International Channels you can
Watch on Our UCC Approved
Decoder(@150,000/=):Local and International Channels: Bukedde TV, Al-Jazeera English, UBC, France 24
English, WBS TV, CCTV, NTV, ITV(Tanzania), NBS, Record TV,
EATV(Tanzania),
Top TV, Salt TV, Miracle TV, LightHouse TV, Bouquet Server 1, BVN
TV, Bouquet Server 2, HTV, Salaam TV, ABS TV, Urban TV, Rotana
TV, Delta TV, R-TV, Star TV and Capital TV(Tanzania).
Only Buy once (Decoder @150,000/=) and watch all these
Channels for FREE, Forever.
Other Functions of our HD Decoder:
1). It comes with a USB Port that supports Direct recording of TV Programs onto a FlashDisk2). It can also be used to play Videos directly from a FlashDisk. 3). It also has a HDMI port for a High Definition Quality "Muchere-Free" Picture.
Click Here
for More Details and Full Channels ListOther Functions of our HD Decoder:
1). It comes with a USB Port that supports Direct recording of TV Programs onto a FlashDisk2). It can also be used to play Videos directly from a FlashDisk. 3). It also has a HDMI port for a High Definition Quality "Muchere-Free" Picture.
For FREEEE Delivery of your UCC Approved Un-Locked Decoder, within Kampala, Please Call 256-701-831 889
Visit Our Office:
Shop F1-8, Nalubwama Arcade, (Building Between Old Taxi Park & Cooper Complex), Kampala, Uganda
Saturday, 2 May 2015
Position Statement on Plastic Bags
Position Statement
on Plastic Bags
In
Brief
Plastic bags are often dominating environmental
headlines. In recent years, a number of political initiatives (national and
local) have been taken, involving proposals to impose a levy or ban on plastic
shopping bags in Uganda.
Within this context of an increased interest on
this issue, Uganda Retailers and
Wholesalers Association (URWA)
intends through this paper to give its view on this highly sensitive political
issue.
Based on various facts and figures as well as the
expertise accumulated by its members throughout the country, Uganda Retailers and
Wholesalers Association’s position on carrier plastic bags can be summarized as
follows:
• Neither the imposition of a mandatory levy or ban on plastic bags
nor the promotion of biodegradable plastic bags constitute adequate
tools to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags used by consumers
• Efforts to achieve environmental improvements should include initiatives
involving the business sector which can be developed in constructive
collaboration with the local authorities and government. They prove to be more
effective especially when they are combined with raising awareness and
education campaigns as well as the promotion of reusable bags.
About plastic bags
Definition
A plastic
shopping bag is a polymer carry bag provided or utilized at the retail point of
sale for carrying and transporting retail goods and which is only intended for
one way use. This includes all single use plastic retail bags, but excludes
produce bags used in-store, dry cleaning bags, garbage bags and other primary
product packaging.1
General Comments
Because of their light weight, plastic
bags only constitute a tiny percentage of the overall waste stream but they
tend to be in the spotlight because they are an icon of modern convenience
culture and lifestyles. Plastic bags only relate to 0.01% of the municipal
waste stream so any legislative measures in addition to the general obligations
from the respective national packaging legislation, appear disproportionate to
the environmental benefit that they would bring compared to tackling other,
larger waste streams. Often putting in place high profile measures on such a
small proportion of the waste stream risks giving the wrong environmental
message because consumers may think they are "doing their bit" by
reducing or reusing bags and ignore the rest of their environmental impacts,
which could be far more significant.
Plastic bags are popular with consumers
and retailers because of all the practical advantages they offer; they are
light, cheap, strong, and a hygienic way to transport food and products home.
Moreover, several studies have shown that consumers use a high percentage of
these plastic shopping bags to hold kitchen waste prior to depositing it in
their waste bins for collection and recycling. For example, URWA estimate that
4 out of 5 Ugandan consumers reuse their single use carrier bags in the home,
so any taxation system must take account of the impact on purchases of other
plastic bags for the home such as refuse sacks.
Views on the environmental impact of
plastic bag consumption vary greatly. Whereas some consider that they are just
a nuisance, others believe they are a real hazard that should be banned. This
is also reflected in the variety of instruments used to tackle the plastic bag
issue.
The main arguments against plastic bags
are linked to the littering issue in some countries as well as the persistence
in landfill. They are also attacked because they have become the symbol of
modern society’s unsustainable lifestyles. And finally the environmental impact
linked to the consumption of raw materials and the production process is also
pointed at.
Various measures have been taken in
order to address the above-mentioned impacts with more or less success. These
measures can be categorized as follows:
•
Ban
on plastic bags
•
Market-based
instruments (mandatory or agreed on a voluntary basis) such as the use of
taxation or charges
•
Awareness
raising campaigns
•
Infrastructure
to deal with end of life plastic bags (i.e. producer responsibility schemes)
•
Promotion
of certain types of plastic bags (i.e. biodegradable plastic bags)
o Offering reusable bags as alternative to the
consumer
o Voluntary agreements between government and
industry
Ban
A ban is a very powerful tool in
environmental policy but is also radical and market intrusive and should
therefore only be used as a last resort. It should therefore be deployed only
when there are substantial environmental grounds for such a measure based on Life
cycle assessment (LCA) results, which is not the case for plastic bags.
Before introducing a ban it is important
to propose effective and practical alternatives to consumers to carry their
shopping home but most importantly to consider the various consequences of the
ban. The ban of plastic bags can indeed stimulate the use of other types of
bags and nets with greater environmental impacts.
Moreover, a ban on one product in a
particular material - such as the plastic carrier bag - cannot reduce the
problem of litter. Litter consists of many different fractions of which the
plastic carrier bag accounts for only a small proportion. Of the total volume
of plastic carrier bags, only a tiny percentage ends up as litter. Solving
littering requires other measures such as awareness raising campaigns against
littering.
Finally, a ban would be illegal under
the some laws (the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive) as every packaging
which fulfills the Essential Requirements is allowed to be used all over the country.
Taxation
The power of market-based instruments to
change behaviour is undeniable but there must be a clear link between the
instrument adopted and the environmental aim being pursued. The suitability of
a measure should be carefully evaluated and benchmarked vis-à-vis other
available options and the costs of the measures proposed should be
proportionate to their environmental benefit. The use of economic instruments
such as taxation should not be used for the primary purpose of raising revenue
for the state.
Introducing a levy on plastic bags may
reduce their consumption in the short term but proves to be unsustainable in
the long run. For example, Ireland introduced a levy on plastic bags in 2002
mainly to reduce litter. The levy had the desired effect in the first years
with a sharp drop in plastic bags usage (95%) and a shift to reusable bags.
However, after some years, plastic bag usage started to increase again
slightly, which pushed the Irish government to increase the levy in 2007.
Changes in legislation are in the process of being introduced which will allow
for an increase in the levy to 44€-c.
One further issue with any taxation or
levy fee system is deciding how the revenue raised should be used. Often this
income just goes into general taxation rather than for any environmental
benefit.
From this perspective, voluntary
agreements with retailers including realistic short term reduction targets and
long term ambitious goals are more sustainable solutions. For example they
appear to be working well in the UK, where leading high street and grocery
retailers exceeded their voluntary target (facilitated through WRAP) to reduce
the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008. Since the
commitment in 2006, retailers actually delivered a 40% reduction in the
environmental impact of carrier bags. This was achieved through an absolute reduction
in the number of carrier bags distributed to customers by 26% and simultaneous
efforts to increase the recycled content of single use bags and reductions in
their overall weight. Similarly in France, the amount of plastic bags decreased
by 85% between 2000 and 2008 without introducing any taxation or ban.
(3
When France tried to introduce a decree including a general ban on the
distribution of non-biodegradable single-use carrier bags to end consumers in
2006, the European Commission considered it was contrary to article 18 of the
Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste which states that Member States
shall not impede the placing on the market of their territory of packaging
which satisfies the provisions of this Directive. The European Commission added
that the measures envisaged in the French decree lacked proportionality.)
In general, any measure implemented in
relation to plastic bags should therefore be based on voluntary agreements with
the industrial sectors.
Producer responsibility
Successful alternative economic
instruments, such as producer responsibility-based systems should be further
taken into consideration when environmental impacts of plastic bags are
considered. These systems have indeed proven to be more effective in triggering
environmental improvement than taxation, in a cost-effective and flexible way.
The environmental impact linked to the
consumption of raw materials and production processes can be best offset by
high levels of material recycling and energy recovery. In cases where a
collection system for plastic packaging including plastic films is in place
plastic bags can be integrated within this system and can therefore be part of
the solution. These systems can indeed use several technological solutions that
allow the recovery and recycling of plastic bags and therefore reduce the flow
of plastic shopping bags into landfill and litter. The environmental impact of
plastic bags is lowest when these are recycled or incinerated with energy
recovery alongside other plastic waste.
Solutions to the plastic bags issue
should therefore involve the improvement of plastics recycling and efforts from
the authorities should be geared towards developing a market for reprocessing
plastics.
Consumer communications
An important part of the solution to the
impacts of plastic bags is to produce a permanent change in behaviour by
engaging customers through education and encouragement. It is necessary to
drive forward local communications and information campaigns to raise consumer
awareness of the issue, associated problems like littering and appropriate
solutions. In the UK the Government funded a national campaign known as ‘Get a
bag habit’ to encourage consumer behaviour change.
In order for any national or local
campaign to achieve success it also needs to be complemented by ensuring that
alternative reusable bags are readily available to consumers at a reasonable
cost. In most of the western countries these alternatives are widely available
and commonly used.
Retailers can
play an important role in encouraging consumers to change their consumption
habits in this regards. They can be involved in the development of
communications strategies that would educate and motivate consumers to consume
less one-way plastic shopping bags and prefer more sustainable options to carry
their goods home.
Also, some retailers have sought to
encourage their customers to be greener through the use of additional reward points
when using reusable carrier bags in their store. In France, an awareness
campaign towards consumers (including training cashiers) has led to the almost
complete disappearance of plastic bags in shops.
Any measure implemented in relation to
plastic bags should therefore proactively involve consumers.
Biodegradable bags
There is an increasing enthusiasm for
biodegradable plastic bags due to the growing perception that they are more
environmentally friendly. A shift to these types of bags would not reduce the
amount of bags discarded as litter. On the contrary, they can potentially add
on to the litter problem as the consumer may believe that they just “break down
and disappear” after disposal. Moreover, biological degradation without the
required condition (micro-organism, temperature and humidity) is very slow and
can take several years.
With regards to their sustainability,
biodegradable bags are often described as environmentally superior to
traditional plastic bags although this assumption is not implicitly correct.
Being biodegradable or biomass based is not synonymous with being
environmentally friendly or sustainable. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies
have demonstrated that bio-based plastic bags are not more sustainable than
fossil-based plastic bags.
Finally, biodegradable bags offer no
advantage in terms of waste management over conventional ones. In fact they
could damage existing collection and recycling systems for plastic packaging.
They need to be sorted separately otherwise they contaminate the other plastic
waste and harm the quality of the recycled output.
National authorities promoting these
types of bags and retailers using these new materials therefore have a
responsibility for introducing them in a responsible and coordinated manner so
that previous education efforts for waste prevention and recycling are not
undermined.
Conclusions
Focusing on plastic bags is in general a
very limited approach because they only constitute a tiny part of the overall
waste. A more holistic approach is needed than imposing a ban on plastic bags
or a levy to address the plastic bags issue.
Consumers need to be given a better
understanding of the relative environmental impacts of their lifestyles in
order to make effective choices. The imposition of a mandatory levy or ban on
plastic bags, or the promotion of biodegradable plastic bags, do not constitute
adequate tools to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags used by consumers.
Efforts to achieve environmental
improvements should include voluntary agreements between government and
industry. They prove to be more effective especially when they are combined
with raising awareness and education campaigns as well as the promotion of
reusable bags.
Public Consultation Report on the Environmental Ban on Plastic Shopping Bags
Public
Consultation Report on the Environmental Ban on Plastic Shopping Bags
BACKGROUND
Uganda
Retailers and Wholesalers Association (URWA) launched a
public consultation on a proposal on an environmental Ban on plastic shopping
bags. The objective of the proposal is to reduce the indiscriminate use of
plastic shopping bags. The proposal involves a phased introduction of an
environmental ban of plastic shopping bag distributed at retailers, with the
first phase covering chain or large supermarkets, convenience stores and
personal health and beauty stores. It is estimated that close to one billion
plastic shopping bags could be saved each year with the introduction of the
environmental ban.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The public consultation
exercise adopted a multi-pronged approach, involving i) public opinion survey;
ii) meetings of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs, the
Advisory Council on the Environment, the District Councils and the environment
CSOs; iii) consultation sessions with major stakeholders, including plastic bag
manufacturers, retailers and relevant trade associations; iv) and v) dedicated
website, email and fax for written submissions.
General Public
The Research was commissioned
to conduct a public opinion survey on the proposal on an environmental ban on
plastic shopping bags during the public consultation period.
Nearly 90% of the respondents of the survey agreed
that there was room to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags in their daily
life. 84% and 66% of the respondents supported the implementation of the
“polluter pays” principle and the introduction of the environmental ban on
plastic shopping bags respectively.
Among the respondents
who supported the introduction of the environmental ban, 76% of them considered
that a ban would be effective in discouraging the use of plastic shopping bags,
and close to 80% said that they would reduce the use of plastic shopping bags
or bring their own shopping bags more often if a ban was introduced. Close to
85% of the respondents, who supported the introduction of the environmental ban,
also supported a phased approach. Among those who supported a phased approach,
more than 95% of them agreed that supermarkets, convenience stores and personal
health and beauty stores should be covered in the first phase.
We also consulted the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of
the District Councils at their monthly meeting. Most of the Chairmen and
Vice-Chairmen spoke in support of the environmental ban.
Notwithstanding the general public consensus, some
members of the public considered that the proposed environmental ban amounted
to a penalty, and could be a burden upon the underprivileged. Some considered
that most of the plastic shopping bags had already been productively reused as
garbage bags or packaging bags. Some suggested that the Government should
encourage the use of degradable plastic shopping bags instead. Others suggested
that the Government should strengthen public education and further work with
retailers on the reduction, reuse and recovery of plastic shopping bags on a
voluntary basis.
Legislative Council
The Panel on
Environmental Affairs discussed the environmental ban at several meetings. The
majority of political parties, as well as the deputations, spoke in support of
the environmental ban. They considered that the environmental ban was in line
with the principle of “polluter pays”, and given the seriousness of plastic
shopping bag abuse, it should be implemented.
While not opposing the
introduction of the environmental ban in principle, a political party suggested
that the voluntary efforts on plastic shopping bag reduction should be
strengthened and continued for another two years, before considering the need
to introduce an environmental ban. The party was also concerned that environmental
ban or producer responsibility schemes in general, could add undue burden to
the trade and the public. The administrative costs of the proposed
environmental ban might also add to the burden of small and medium enterprises.
Advisory Council on the Environment
The Advisory Council on
the Environment, as well as its Waste Management Subcommittee, supported the
Administration's proposal. The Council encouraged the Administration to review
the scheme in a year's time, and consideration should be given to extending the
scheme to other retail outlets so as to realize more environmental benefits and
foster a level-playing field in the affected business sector.
Plastic Bag Manufacturers
Plastic bag
manufacturers, as represented by the Plastic Bags Manufacturers’ Association,
opposed the proposed environmental ban on plastic shopping bags. They
considered that plastic shopping bags were more environmentally friendly than
other single-use carriers, such as paper bags. They also considered that
plastic bags were productively reused by the general public and could be
recycled if properly sorted. They questioned the effectiveness of the scheme in
waste reduction, given the limited amount of plastic shopping bags disposed of
at the landfills and the apparent risk of switching to other single-use
carriers.
Retailers
The retail industry, as
represented by the Uganda Retailers and Wholesalers Association (URWA), opposed
the proposed environmental ban. They considered that chain and large
supermarkets, convenience stores and personal health and beauty stores were
being unfairly targeted under
the proposal. They claimed that these major retailers only contributed to a
small part of the problem, and had done the most in reducing plastic shopping
bags on a voluntary basis. URWA also questioned the effectiveness of the proposal
given the limited coverage initially and the risk of switching to other
single-use carriers or other free sources of plastic shopping bags. They also
had doubts on the success of overseas experience. The affected retailers
disputed the figures of the landfill survey, which attributed some 20% of plastic
shopping bags to them. URWA suggested that the Government should continue with
voluntary initiatives on plastic shopping bag reduction.
Environmental NGOs Organizations
Environmental NGOs supported
the proposed environmental ban. Yet, there were slightly different views on the
details of the proposal, especially on the sustainability the ban. The majority
of written submissions from other organizations also supported the
environmental ban in principle, though there were some dissenting views on the
effectiveness and long-term benefits of the proposed ban.
ADMINISTRATION’S
RESPONSE TO THE VIEWS RECEIVED
We are very much
encouraged by the overwhelming support of the respondents on the proposed
initiatives to address our waste problems. We are also delighted to note that
the public generally agree with the implementation of the “polluter pays”
principle. The public consultation exercise has shown that there is a
broad-based support from members of the environmental panel, the Advisory
Council on the Environment, the District Councils and the public on the
proposed environmental ban on plastic shopping bags.
Notwithstanding the
broad consensus, we are aware of the concerns frequently raised by those who
have expressed reservations with the proposal. In particular, some challenge
the objective of the proposal. They question why plastic bag should be targeted
and whether the ban is a disguised move by the Government to raise revenue. There
have also been request for the Government to release the consultancy study
conducted by NEMA. We would take this opportunity to respond to these comments
and concerns.
Objective of the Ban
It is universally
accepted that usage of plastic bags is a common and in certain situation,
necessary practice. The problem lies in the fact that we have been disposing of
more than three plastic shopping bags per person per day. The core objective of
the ban is to reduce the indiscriminate
use of plastic shopping bags affirmatively and effectively.
It has never
been our intention to raise public revenue through the environmental ban and
levy. The environmental levy serves solely as an economic incentive to encourage
the public to bring their own shopping bags and reduce the use of plastic
shopping bags. The fewer plastic shopping bags the public use, the less revenue
the levy generates. In fact, the public can, and should, avoid the
environmental levy entirely by bringing their own shopping bags at all time.
Effectiveness of the Proposal
We are mindful of the
risk of “switching” to other single-use carriers, such as paper bags. We have,
therefore, proposed a phased approach by first introducing the environmental ban
at chain or large supermarkets, convenience stores and personal health and
beauty stores. Given the nature of the products offered by these retailers and
the shopping habits of Ugandan people, the risk of “switching” to paper bags at
these retailers is considered low. Yet, we will closely monitor the situation,
and address any side effects that may arise. We have also undertaken to review
the scheme after a year of implementation. The coverage of the scheme, in terms
of both the types of retailers and the types of carriers, could be adjusted or
expanded if considered appropriate.
Overseas Experience
Contrary to the claims
propagated by interested parties, the overseas experience on environmental ban
and levy has largely been successful. Ireland introduced an environmental levy
of EUR 15 cents on plastic shopping bags at the retail level. The plastic
shopping bag usage dropped by 95% in the first year of implementation. In
subsequent years, the usage slightly rebounded, but was still 90% below the pre-levy level. As stated
above, even taking into account of more frequent use of bin liners, there was
still an overall reduction of 77% in the combined use of plastic shopping bags
and bin liners. To maintain the effectiveness of the levy, Ireland has revised
the levy upwards to EUR 0.22.
Taiwan introduced its
“Restricted Use Policy on Plastic Shopping Bags” in 2002, which involved i) a
ban on plastic shopping bags with thickness less than 0.06 mm; and ii) an
environmental levy at the retail level. After the introduction of the levy, the
plastic shopping bag usage dropped by 80% in the first year, but slightly
rebounded subsequently. The ban on “thin” plastic shopping bags has led to an
increase in plastic bag waste in certain sector where plastic shopping bags are
necessary. The Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency had therefore exempted
restaurants with storefronts from the scheme. Given the experience of Taiwan,
we propose that we should adopt a phased approach, and review the scheme after
a year of implementation.
The San Francisco City
Government proposed to introduce an environmental levy of US$ 17 cents to
reduce the use of plastic shopping bag. The proposal was withdrawn due to the
objection from the trade. Instead, the City Government signed a voluntary
agreement with major supermarkets to reduce 10 million plastic bags. Yet, it
was reported that the target was not met. A piece of legislation was passed to
ban the use of conventional plastic shopping bags and to mandate the use of
recyclable paper bags, compostable plastic bags or reusable checkout bags at
supermarkets and pharmacies.
Voluntary Efforts
Our voluntary efforts on plastic shopping bag
reduction started wayback with the launch of the “Bring Your Own Bags (BYOB)”
campaign. Yet, the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags remains a
prominent environmental problem as of today. We consider, and the public
generally agree, that it is time for a more decisive action by introducing the
proposed environmental levy. The levy would work hand-in-hand with our
continuing voluntary efforts to achieve a more reasonable use of plastic
shopping bags.
Degradable Plastic Shopping Bags
The use of degradable
plastic shopping bags does not
actually solve the problem of indiscriminate use. Instead, it gives a wrong impression that the public
could use degradable plastic shopping bags without adverse environmental
consequence. In fact, the disposal of degradable plastic shopping bags has its
own environmental impact, and similarly imposes further pressure on our
precious landfills. The mixing of degradable plastic shopping bags with
conventional ones also makes the recovery and recycling of plastic shopping
bags much more difficult. The best solution to our waste problem is, therefore,
to bring our own reusable shopping bags at all time and avoid plastic shopping
bags at source.
Recycling of Plastic Shopping Bags
While the proposed
environmental ban focuses on reduction at source, we also very much encourage
the recycling of plastic shopping bags. We encourage nationwide “source
separation of domestic waste programme”, where plastic bags, together with
other plastic materials, are separately sorted and collected for recycling. Similarly,
the 3-colored recycling bins also collect plastic bags and other plastic
materials for recycling. In conjunction with the source separation programme,
we plan a programme to facilitate the plastic shopping bags recycling through
more publicity and enhanced collection methods. Separately, we shall work with environmental
groups to run pilot schemes to encourage multiple use of plastic shopping bags.
WAY FORWARD
It is clear from the
public consultation that there is a broad-based public support to the
introduction of the proposed environmental ban to address the indiscriminate
use of plastic shopping bags. As reflected in the written submissions, there
has been an increasing awareness on environmental protection among members of
the public, who consider that it is time for more decisive action to address
our environmental problems. The proposed environmental ban responds
affirmatively to this public aspiration.
In the meantime, we
will continue to work with environmental groups and retailers to reduce the use
of plastic shopping bags on a voluntary basis. A major public education
campaign is being planned to promote plastic bag reduction at retail markets,
bakeries and newspaper stands. Aside from reduction, we would also encourage environmental
groups to promote plastic bag reuse and recycling, so as to complement the
proposed environmental levy and complete the loop of a circular economy.
Key
Findings of Public Opinion Survey on the Environmental Ban on Plastic Shopping
Bags
Samples:
1,102
respondents of age 15 and above Margin of Error: ± 3.0% (95% confidence
interval)
Key Findings
Scope for Reducing Plastic Shopping Bags
89.3 % of respondents agreed that there was room in
reducing the use of plastic shopping bags.
“Polluter pays” Principle and Environmental Ban and Levy
84.0% of respondents supported or strongly supported
the “polluter pays” principle.
66.2% of respondents supported or strongly supported
the proposed environmental ban and levy on plastic shopping bags.
Effectiveness of the Environmental Ban and Levy
Amongst those supporting the
environmental ban:
-
76.2% (50.4% of all respondents)
considered that a ban would be an effective deterrent.
-
77.9% (51.6% of all respondents) would
use fewer plastic shopping bags if a ban was imposed.
-
79.9% (52.9% of all respondents) would
more often bring their own bags if a ban was imposed.
Phased Approach
Amongst those supporting the
environmental ban and levy:
-
84.3%
(55.9% of all respondents) supported a phased approach.
-
95.3% of those supporting a phased
approach (53.2 % of all respondents) agreed that supermarkets, convenience
stores and personal health and beauty shops should be covered first.
Reuse and Recycling
92.7% of respondents reused plastic shopping
bags for the following purposes:
As garbage bags
|
90.4%
|
As general
carriers
|
83.7%
|
As packaging
materials
|
69.7%
|
As shopping
bags again
|
64.6%
|
Others
|
2.1%
|
34.4% of respondents separately sorted
out plastic shopping bags for recycling.
71.1% of respondents claimed that they
brought their own bags in daily life.
Other Reduction Measures
Amongst those not supporting the environmental ban
and levy (21.8%), the following measures were suggested to reduce the use of
plastic shopping bags:
Measures
|
Of those not
|
Of all
|
|
supporting
the
|
respondents
|
|
levy
|
|
More public
education
|
94.3%
|
20.5%
|
Voluntary
scheme by retailers
|
82.5%
|
18.0%
|
More reuse and
recycling
|
91.8%
|
20.0%
|
Ban on plastic
bags
|
13.9%
|
3.0%
|
Others
|
17.5%
|
3.8%
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)