Environment | Gov’t questioned about progress on charge for plastic shopping bags

Lawmaker Agnes Lam has urged the government to report the progress of its environmental levy plan on plastic shopping bags.

“The Macau Solid Waste Resource Management Plan (2016-2017) planned to start charging for plastic bags in order to reduce their use. Concurrently, [Macau] will improve its recycling system to enhance efficiency. What is the actual progress concerning these two measures and what other specific measures can be launched during the year?” Agnes Lam asked in her written inquiry to the government.

Recently, Taiwan considered restricting the use of plastic straws to reduce plastic waste. However, the proposal caused controversy there.

Lam asked the government whether it is considering establishing composition standards for plastic bags, plastic straws and other plastic items.

“At the same time, will the government fine those who use sub-standard plastic bags by spot-checking merchants in the market, and will the government encourage the market to reduce the use of plastic bags by increasing their cost?” Lam asked.

In addition to the abovementioned questions, Lam also suggested the government improve technological innovation to enhance Macau’s environmental protection.

“Will the government consider setting up some research funding measures to encourage domestic and overseas scientific research personnel to come to Macau to set up laboratories to research and develop more environmentally friendly alternative materials?” Lam questioned, adding “it could strengthen Macau’s research capability and increase environmental protection in Macau.”

A 111-million-ton trash problem

FEW PEOPLE consider used plastic to be a valuable global commodity. Yet China has imported 106 million tons of old bags, bottles, wrappers and containers worth USD57.6 billion since 1992, the first year it disclosed data. So when the country announced last year that it finally had enough of everybody else’s junk, governments the world over knew they had a problem. They just didn’t know exactly how large it was. Now they know. By 2030, an estimated 111 million metric tons of used plastic will need to be buried or recycled somewhere else—or not manufactured at all. That’s the conclusion of a new analysis of UN global trade data by University of Georgia researchers.