Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has warned retailers that from May 1 – Friday – they’ll face fines if they don’t charge customers for plastic bags.
A month after the new law took effect, EPD officials have been issuing verbal warnings to retailers caught failing to charge customers a plastic bag levy. On April 1, a controversial law took effect forcing retailers to charge for bags – but rather than pass on the fees, they are allowed to keep them. That’s because the law is designed to reduce plastic bag usage in the territory, not raise revenue.
Retailers who don’t charge a fee face instant fines of $2000 or even prosecution for second offences.
An EPD spokesman said the full implementation of PSB charging has been largely proceeding smoothly at the retail level since April 1. Most retail outlets comply with the legal requirements and charge at least 50 cents for each plastic bag provided to customers, unless such use is exempted from the PSB charge.
“A small number of individual retail outlets have been found contravening the law by distributing PSBs free of charge, leading to verbal warnings and on-site explanations of the legal requirements given to the shop operators concerned by EPD enforcement officers,” a statement from the EPD said.
*Since late March, the Environmental Protection Department has set up promotion booths in popular shopping centres and retail outlets to educate the general public on details of the PSB charging scheme.
Between April 1 and 25, about 7000 retail outlets were inspected by EPD officers with 62 verbal warnings given to non-complying stores including market stalls, grocery stores, bakery shops, fashion shops and shops selling computers, aquariums or other items. The contraventions included providing free PSBs for non-foodstuff or airtight food or free PSBs for both exempted items and non-exempted items, or providing non-woven bags or other kinds of plastic bags without charging customers, as well as offering rebates to customers to offset the PSB charge.
The spokesman said the arrangement of giving verbal warnings against contraventions enabled retailers and members of the public to better adapt to the new requirements so that PSB charging could be implemented smoothly.
“Starting from May 1, this Friday, immediate enforcement action including a fixed penalty notice or prosecution action will be taken against non-compliance with no prior verbal warning given by the EPD’s officers.”
Exemptions apply to PSBs used for food hygiene reasons, such as for containing a food item which is unpackaged or contained in non-airtight packaging or in frozen/chilled state.
PSBs used for the pre-packaging of goods are also exempt, while bags provided with services fall outside the scope of regulation.
The spokesman said the EPD will continue to publicise the new measures and promote the green habit of “BYOB” (bring your own bag) among shop owners and the general public through various channels and public education campaigns.
