28pc of public still misinformed on plastic bag levy, survey finds

The levy on plastic shopping bags comes into force tomorrow, but almost one-third of the public remains unclear about which shops will charge consumers the 50-cent levy, a green group's survey has found.

Twenty-eight per cent of 811 respondents incorrectly thought they would be charged the levy at newsstands, bookshops, wet markets, stationery stores and dispensaries, according to the Greeners Action poll conducted last month.

Under the new law, however, the levy will be imposed only by chain supermarkets, convenience stores, personal health and beauty stores and supermarkets inside department stores, and only on plastic shopping bags with handles.

'It shows that the public remains confused about where they will have to pay the levy,' the group's chairman, Angus Ho Hon-wai, said. He called on the government for a better publicity campaign to raise public awareness.

Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah reminded consumers yesterday that the 2,800 shops registered under the levy scheme were marked by a logo and were listed on the bureau's website. Shops and consumers were well prepared for the scheme, he said.

The survey found that more than 95 per cent knew the scheme would start tomorrow and it would cost 50 cents for a plastic bag. Eighty-two per cent said they knew the levy was for plastic bags with handles.