Waste-charge scheme will be watered down and overcomplicated
The solution to waste disposal is being made overcomplicated. A tax at the till on packaging, like the 50-cent plastic bag levy, is a far more efficient solution. Add-on charges to bills would soon curb excess, with customers questioning the need for so much packaging.
I refer to the letter by Christine Loh, undersecretary for the environment ("Waste-charge system will be coupled with more recycling", October 8), replying to Bob Carson ("People will be charged for waste created by manufacturers", September 30).
Mr Carson hit the nail on the head. Much of the waste generated in Hong Kong is gratuitous packaging foisted on consumers.
We already foot the bill for it, the cost is factored into prices, and now the government wants us to pay for its disposal. Ms Loh believes this will encourage us to put pressure on manufacturers and retailers to reduce packaging.
The solution to waste disposal is being made overcomplicated. A tax at the till on packaging, like the 50-cent plastic bag levy, is a far more efficient solution. Add-on charges to bills would soon curb excess, with customers questioning the need for so much packaging.
This dovetails with Ms Loh's previous statement that charges remind us that waste disposal is not free and "incentivises us to make different decisions, and to think carefully about the consequences of our lifestyles" ("Charges one tool for waste management", September 17). All those additional charges would incentivise mass protests against unnecessary packaging.
We now face another tortuous consultation on waste charges that will lead to the inevitable watering down of the original intention. We will end up with a cumbersome and costly charge process that is difficult to implement.