Key squashes plastic bag tax
BY PAUL EASTON AND MATT CALMAN
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Prime Minister John Key has ruled out a Government-backed levy on plastic shopping bags.
Mr Key said he favoured a voluntary industry-led solution after The Dominion Post revealed that Environment Minister Nick Smith had asked officials to investigate a 5 cent charge per bag.
"I've made it quite clear to the minister that ... I'm not going to support a change by decree that sees the coffers of supermarkets swelled," he said yesterday.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the comments revealed a lack of communication within the Government.
"For a brief moment it seemed like the National Party was going to do something for the environment, but they've closed the shutters on that one."
Mr Key said a billion plastic bags a year looked excessive for a country of this size and "we do acknowledge that there is an issue".
A similar scheme in Ireland, known as PlasTax, has cut plastic bag use and raised millions for environmental projects.
A 5c levy could have raised $39 million a year, based on the 780 million bags used by New Zealand supermarket shoppers although Dr Smith had said the money would go to supermarkets, not to environmental projects.
Mr Key said he did not support legislating a charge to shoppers, although "I support [Dr Smith's] view that we would want to see a reduction in the number of bags".
Dr Norman said a mandatory charge would result in a "level playing field" for businesses and work better than a voluntary scheme.
"That's what's been successful overseas."
Plastic bags make up 0.2 per cent of New Zealand's waste but stay in landfills for decades, get into waterways and smother marine life.
Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said she would be comfortable with a small levy on bags, even if aimed at consumers. "We have to think about the bigger picture."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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the truth about plastic bags.com huh... Anyone noticed that every "media myth" they seem to use is just an exaggeration of a true fact. E.g "plastic bags are the No.1 threat to ocean wildlife" NO!! that is not a media myth! No one has made any "No.1 threat" claims. How about "plastic bags are a threat to ocean wildlife"?? because u know what the fact is? They ARE!!! they arnt no.1, but does that really matter. or how about "Plastic bags are the MOST COMMON form of coastal litter" No one claims they are the most common. But they still cause coastal litter. And notice the comparison they make regarding coastal litter is based on weight. Which is just Bias!! how much does a plasic bag weight?? next to nothing. while other litter weighs alot more. So does that make it ok to ignore the fact that the ocean conservatory found almost 9000 lbs of plastic bags?? HELL NO!!
For facts and links to the studies about plastic bags and the environment that started it all, as well as environmental shopping strategies and a survey of plastic bag knowledge...please visit www.thetruthaboutplasticbags.com
Why don't supermarkets get rid of all the hard plastic, that you never saw around 10 years ago. Cakes used to be wrapped in a thin plastic, now its a hard plastic case. Fruit and veges also come in these same none recyclable cases. They are putting more in land fill than a few bags. 0.2% is not worth worrying about. I use reuseable bags, but when I need new bin liners, I use supermarket bags. They are thiner and cheaper than the proper bin liners. Here's a question for all you against supermarket bags, in other countries do they spend more or less per head of population on bin liners than we do in NZ. Everyone I know uses supermarket bags, and don't buy bin liners.
Voluntary solutions don't always work - I can count on one hand the number of times supermarket checkout staff have asked if I need a bag - I always carry my own and almost always have to point it out. Key doesn't want to see supermarket coffers being swelled by the charge for bags - well they won't be swelled if people don't use plastic bags.
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