Talk of the town：Polluter-pays principle
【明報專訊】In short, the MSW charging scheme requires citizens to pay for their own solid waste. Citizens are required to purchase the designated garbage bag.
How to implement the charging scheme?
The government wishes to increase public awareness of waste reduction and promote the concept that waste disposal comes at a cost, hence it was decided that the MSW charging scheme will be operated in line with the ''polluter-pays'' principle(污染者自付原則), indicating that the charges are based on the quantity of waste generated.
Primarily, the government has prepared 9 sizes of garbage bags, at the price of $0.11 per litre. For instance, a 3-litre garbage bag would cost $0.3 while a 10-litre one would cost $1.1. The ''designated garbage bags'' and ''designated labels'' will be sold at some 4,000 authorized sales points like supermarkets and convenience stores. They will also be available online.
''It is challenging to introduce and implement MSW charging'', said a government spokesman. Can you name some challenges faced by the government, if it wants to implement the policy effectively and efficiently?
■ Game
Difficulty: ★★
(Answers on next text)
Down
1. (n) the amount of something
2. (v) to start or execute a plan
Across
3. (adj) related to a town or a city
4. (n) a unit for measuring the volume, 1,000 cubic centimetres
■ Grammar booster
In line with
similar to, or at the same level as something
e.g. In line with the international agreement, the government decided to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
■ Gear up
1. Citizens can purchase the designated garbage bags online.
(True/ False/ Not Given)
2. The government will start implementing the policy in 2021.
(True/ False/ Not Given)
■Glossary
designated (adj) 指定的
awareness (n) 意識
available (adj) 可獲得的
emission (n) 排放
[Smarties' Power English 第318期]
