Talk of the town : $1 per plastic shopping bag
【明報專訊】The charged level per plastic shopping bag had remained at $0.5 since 2009. With effective from 31 December 2022, the new minimum charging level is $1, and the previous exemption for plastic shopping bags carrying frozen or chilled foodstuff items, or food already wholly contained in packaging, is removed.
Exempted foodstuff items include only items not wholly contained in packaging, items without packaging and takeaway in non-airtight packaging.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau has pointed out that the charging level per plastic shopping bag since 2009 has been unable to create the economic incentives to inhibit the demand for consuming plastic bags. By going a step further to increase the charging level to $1, it is predicted that about 25% of plastic bags sent to landfills can be reduced every day.
On the day of implementation, some citizens and shops did not know the standards and guidelines of the enhanced plastic shopping bag charging scheme.
■Gear up
The enhanced charging scheme has increased the minimum charging level to $1.
(True/False)
(Answer on next text)
■Game
Design your own bag!
(See the picture 2)
■Grammar Booster
Go a step further
To advance, to add something more.
E.g. The summit goes a step further to restrict the greenhouse gas emission by each country.
■Glossary
remain (v) 維持
wholly (adv) 完全地
incentive (n) 動機/誘因
landfill (n) 堆填
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view to rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第371期]
