(Modified version 2) the proposed charges for plastic bags

 The following is to reduce plastic bags, Global Village of Beijing Union project team to explore and promote plastic bag fee to write a modified version of an article to it based.
We welcome the valuable suggestions and feedback.
Global Village of Beijing: Plastic Bag fee of advice - br> plastic bag in the community are widely used in daily life, on the one hand to the city and modern life has brought great convenience, on the other hand it brings environmental issues have become the focus of the current problems of environmental governance. It can be said , plastic bags and plastic film products, waste everywhere, no place to disappear. the harm to the environment has become a common concern of countries in the world. To solve this problem, the source to reduce consumption of disposable plastic bags are the most effective solution One way of that the survey, education, cooperation with schools and businesses to establish plastic bag fee system, the implementation of the supervision. which charges for plastic bags as an important measure will be used to promote the economic driving force consumers to change their consumption patterns and thus control consumption of plastic bags, while carrying out publicity and education combined with effective promotion of reusable shopping bags to promote the ; bottom-up the influence of growth, the volunteer group and communicate with the school Global Village of Beijing, to submit proposals to them, and then contact the supermarket and schools, and stakeholders to discuss charges for plastic bags after the implementation of methods in the implementation of plastic bags charges. measures implemented after the impact evaluation, implementation supervision, and continue to carry out related promotional activities (which is roughly the process, according to the actual needs to change).
plan would require participating retailers within the University of plastics bags in accordance with uniform fees received from the customer considerable costs (charges in 1 to 3 cents range, according to the relevant investigation and discussions with stakeholders it was decided). the retailer received 10% of fee income operation costs, all other payments will be donated to the Foundation designated to finance environmental protection projects.
We do not advocate surface, mode), caused by environmental and energy problems, and to reduce the pressure on resources and energy and waste generation, to achieve sustainable development.
directory:
Part I - Theory (plastic bag fee idea)
- Background
- plastic bag fee basis - the internalization of external costs
- ----- plastic bag charges and the advantages of prohibition, instead of using other one-time items, the three measures for recovery and recycling compared < br> - the significance of plastic bag charges
1) change the 3R principle, to achieve sustainable development
-
second part of the case at home and abroad - the specific mode of operation: proceed because
- Objective
- Target
- Pilot
- operation
- reduce plastic bag Union University volunteer group in various roles and responsibilities of
- reward system
- action process (not yet)
Part III - Related articles and links
Part One - Theory (plastic bag fee idea)

plastic bags in the social background of the widespread use of daily life, a aspects of modern life to the city has brought great convenience, on the other hand it brings the Department does not, have been witnessed. the harm to the environment has become a common concern of countries in the world.
to solve this problem, reduce the use of plastic bags is one of the most effective solution. particularly in the waste plastic bags recovery systems, and waste treatment system is not perfect after the case [1], the source will effectively reduce the use of plastic bags to reduce the white pollution. Equally important is that in the case of a serious lack of energy, to achieve sustainable development, energy consumption and waste of the environmental awareness, the actual reduction of the use of plastic bags is difficult to achieve. should use economic instruments to stimulate the consumer, so consumers will change their consumption patterns to control the use of plastic bags. For this reason, plastic bag charges an effective measure.
plastic bag fee basis - the internalization of external costs
Although the cost of plastic bag production is indeed low, but we should consider the entire life cycle of the social costs, that is, in addition to the production stage of production costs (energy and resource consumption and pollution emissions), as well as garbage collection, transportation, sorting, landfill or incineration, incineration air pollution, landfill decomposition process after long-term occupation of the land costs incurred , plus white pollution of water resources, wildlife and other hazards such as environmental costs. These costs are called , then, these external costs of pollution should be taxed by means of internalization. charges levied on the proceeds will be used to solve the pollution problem. taxation of pollutants occurred in accordance with its divided into two different : upstream levy (charged to producers and importers) and downstream levy (charged to consumers). Either way, this system under the implemented in 2002 the Irish tax on plastic bags. measures to implement them have had prior discussions should be charged to the views of producers and importers, but taking into account the direct impact to improve the consumption patterns of consumers would be better practice, they decided to adopt the mode of taxation charged to consumers. These external costs arise because of the abuse to the Irish plastic bags pollute the environment.
we advocated the form of downstream levy to charge for plastic bags. by the government laws prohibit free distribution of plastic bags the store (unless a plastic bag fee waiver.) obtained from plastic bags to the store every time customers, the stores have to charge customers for each plastic bag prescribed fee. the establishment of an environmental protection fund to manage the fees collected , after deducting costs of operation and management, environmental protection fund will be used to finance and promote: garbage produced to prevent or reduce waste-related projects and research and development related areas; waste plastic products recycling industry; white pollution projects; environmental education, etc. .
charges related to upstream and downstream of two forms of more information, please see the next.
charges for plastic bags and banned ----- advantage, instead of using other one-time items, the three measures for recovery and recycling Comparison
- because it will lead to its growth in demand for alternatives. Some Life Cycle Assessment (LCA, life cycle analysis / assessment) to prove the other one-time substitute, (such as paper bags, biodegradable plastic bags) throughout the life cycle (from its raw material extraction or production stage, stage production, consumption, post-processing stage to the disposal phase) caused by pressure on the environment can not be ignored. The key is consumer demand for disposable shopping bags. regardless of any of the alternatives (even if the environmental pressure less products), if people do not change the abuse of uncontrolled waste habits, can also cause the same consequences, or even worse [3]. bag fee will be controlling the use of economic means consumption of plastic bags [4]. < br> - white pollution play a significant role in the work. But to consider is, 3R principle is a sequence. this order in accordance with the energy and resources consumption and environmental stress and other factors to decide. 3R principles in the location of recycling is to reduce / reduce, re-use after the sequence. recycling can avoid or reduce the extraction of raw materials [5]. but the re-use can save the entire production process, so it saves resources and energy as well as more effective in reducing environmental pressures. charges for plastic bags to the use of economic instruments to promote shopping bags the application of 3R solutions following the principles of the people of Taiwan to reflect creation of the jingle: is, 3R principles must meet all together, and certainly not mutually exclusive. We also fully agree to promote the importance and necessity of recovery and recycling.
charges for plastic bags meaning
1) change abuse, spam , spam in contributing to waste. Although only a few cents, but as long as the charges will have a lot of people care about a few cents. Once the plastic bags to start charging, plastic bags to be seen as a valuable commodity. then consumers like to buy as an ordinary commodity, you do not, or to a few plastic bags is a need to think of purchasing practices, abuse of plastic bags in order to effectively change the status quo, but also limit the cashier's junk, spam will be paid plastic bags be regarded as consumers as a reporter, the current form of the supermarket plastic bags for free, the cost has been included in the actual operating costs of businesses, the surface is free of charge, in fact, the cost of plastic bags Tandao the price of each commodity, and ultimately or pay by the customer. economist Mao Yushi said this is When purchasing goods, the store was more than money. bag fee will resolve this shortcoming. If you separate out the plastic bag fee is no longer credited to the operating costs of businesses, thereby reducing the operating costs will be reflected in the final product prices. so consumers money to spend on needed goods, rather than spend money on plastic bags. the consumers themselves to decide whether consumer plastic bags, people will pay to purchase required. so as to change eat the same big pot to encourage the people. In other words, we should create to encourage and promote environmentally friendly behavior we take the social and economic systems. on the specific problem of how to promote environmentally friendly behavior, , also can be negative - the charges, taxes and so on. to reduce plastic bag, the shopping malls, if the business of plastic bags to each customer refused to offer discounts and other benefits, then, taking into account the interests of business, which approach is not feasible. Therefore, in accordance with the economic responsibility, and not to do .
4) promote the 3R principles of sustainable development
plastic bag fee will be the use of economic instruments to encourage consumers to use less or re-use shopping bags, publicity and education activities carried out at the same time together, the effective promotion of 3R principle. The measure results of the ultimate goal and look forward to not only reduce plastic bag use, but also not solve the ; throw-away society waste society
. in Ireland from March 2002 to begin collection of 15 euro cents per bag tax, a move the country to reduce plastic bag usage by 90% (the Irish government published the latest statistics show that plastic bags reduce the use of up to 95% now). The measures implemented after the change in the way of consumption is also very obvious. a chain supermarket or even decrease of 97.5%. consumers can easily accept this change, to start using a variety of stores can be reused shopping bags.
. in Taiwan from 2002, the implementation of charges for plastic bags, shopping bags are no longer free, and spend 2 million Taiwan dollars to buy, and operators shall not provide thickness of 0.06 cm below the plastic bag . In the restricted use of plastic bags after a decrease of restricted than 55%.
. South African government introduced from May 2003 law prohibiting the use of the thickness of plastic bags below 30 microns, while requiring all retailers to plastic to charge for bags, plastic bags to prevent the costs to commodity prices. According to later in the government, business and civil tripartite agreements, retailers committed to the cost of plastic bags out from the commodity price. South African government then decided to Consumers pay for the cost of plastic bags in the 3 cents (in South Africa points), will be put to the Section 21 company. Section 21 company will assist in the establishment of a nationwide recycling project, conduct public awareness initiatives, while creating employment opportunities in the recovery area .
. 1999, the Korean supermarket and department store shopping bags to provide compensation.
. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Norway and many European countries, stores are also to charge for plastic bags.
. Kenyan government plans to take a two-step policy. The first step will be to disable the thickness of plastic bags below 20 microns, improve the use of plastic bags recycling system, to carry out voluntary actions of stakeholders (from plastic bag manufacturers and retailers to voluntarily reduce plastic bag consumption) and other measures. two years later under the circumstances, will be disabled to 30 microns thick, and the plastic bag levy, plastic bag manufacturers and importers to the charges, the increased costs will be transferred to consumers, to control the consumption of plastic bags. tax proceeds will be used to finance and promote the recycling of waste plastics products industry, alternative development, promote public education do not throw such garbage.
some businesses in the country has taken the initiative to plastic Bag fee measures, such as Metro, Dia, IKEA and so on. It is reported that in Nanjing in Nanjing Metro an area of 1.2 million square meters of supermarket plastic bags, sell them off, only the consumption of more than 300 plastic bags per day, The nearby community supermarket plastic bags free of charge only 5000 square meters, the daily consumption of plastic bags as much as five or six million. Dia currently has 106 branches in Beijing, of which 15 started a pilot shopping bags free of charge. These pilot stores before shopping bag consumption is only about 7%, most customers chose to bring their own shopping bags.
from these experiences, data and results, we can learn is: not only the use of economic instruments effective in changing consumer habits, but also to the recycling of municipal solid waste-related industries, environmental protection industry and related project revenue.
Note 1:
[1], we understand little of waste plastic bags is recovered for recycling. most of the waste plastic bags have to swap the main plant in the landfill.
[2] More information on 3R, please refer to Appendix LCA report, in water consumption, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, waste emissions in terms of pressure on the environment than paper bags (polyethylene) plastic bags even higher.
[4] if the other one-time fee after shopping bag (such as paper bags) excessive growth in demand, then we should also pay for those supplies.
[5] According to LCA report, under normal circumstances, the product life cycle, the largest environmental impact in raw materials extraction and production stages.
upstream and downstream advantages and disadvantages of the two charges in the form of:
according to Australian research institutions NOLAN-ITU Pty Ltd published Report ) in the process, there are retailers all or part of the increased costs borne by themselves the possibility of transfer, thus reducing the impact of changing consumer behavior results. However, compared with charges to consumers, producers and importers to pay implementation and management of workload and cost less, and it will reduce the possibility of tax evasion, because the plastic bags in Australia suppliers (producers and importers) count less than 1000 to oversee a lesser extent. On the contrary, charges to consumers more complex implementation and management, supervision is more difficult because retailers to provide consumers with the number of plastic bags more than 20 million.
Beijing's situation is different in Australia, according to reports, in addition to the plastic in Beijing bags supplier, there are a lot of plastic bags, the number of suppliers scattered around Beijing, and many of them suppliers operating without the appropriate registration, it is difficult to grasp the details of their production volume and other data. to small retailers plastic bags are often provided by vendors on the street for swimming. Given these circumstances, fees to producers will reduce management costs, while providing greater maneuverability of the assumptions or conclusions may not be reasonable (in the absence of effective supervision cases, fees to producers could lead to some retailers, suppliers to buy from plastic bag tax evasion).
charged to consumers is difficult to implement and manage one solution is to set the charge for the early the range of retailers, that is above a certain size supermarkets and department stores. its definition according to square meters, turnover and other factors to decide. gradually expanded the scope of the charges until the high management costs change, and the emergence of operational and serious lack of practical situations. This phased implementation model charges for plastic bags used by the Taiwan government, the first government departments, schools and the military ban free distribution of plastic bags. then in supermarkets, fast food chains and department stores, and the third step is to ban free plastic bags, small business operators. According to reports, although in the third step of the measures to implement some of the difficulties encountered in the process, but plastic bags in the first two steps were spending limit is a good result.
Part II - specific mode of operation
Bag fee, carry out experimental work.
2. from the start because the university fee system
take into account the implementation of advocacy and how to effectively recognized by consumers and other issues, the first university campus to proceed is a more viable option. Despite the release of more plastic bags in supermarkets and vegetable market outside the school, but there is no policy support in the case of nationwide implementation of charges for plastic bags is not realistic. economic instruments should be the appropriate policy support, to be able to play a relevant role. many schools the number of foreign retailers, distribution is very large. If you can not solve the problem of how to effectively monitor, plastic bags are difficult to implement the fee system, because there will always be a few retailers to attract customers, loophole free providing plastic bags. and in the university campus, school campus retailers and consumers (students) have some degree of binding. we can make full use of existing student volunteer organizations and NGO networks, the effective implementation of plastic bags implementation and supervision fees, through a series of publicity activities to raise environmental awareness among teachers and students, get their understanding and support.
the close proximity of shops and hostels, and in addition to providing food restaurant or snack bar outside difficult to avoid the case of the use of disposable plastic bags (for example, installed fish meat, etc.) is relatively small, so the consumption of plastic bags in the university re-use shopping bags through other methods is basically to reduce the.
learn from Taiwan's implementation of the limit use of plastic bags, three-step policy, that is the first government departments, schools and the military ban free distribution of plastic bags. then in supermarkets, fast food chains and department stores, the third step is to ban free plastic bags of small business operators, we should also be implemented within the first plastic bag in the university fee system, to gain experience and successful cases, you gradually extended to other schools outside the city's universities and retailers. the pilot work to develop workable rules for the accumulation of experience and provide basis.
3. Objective
- to reduce plastic bag use on campus.
- so that students realize that through this action based on the environment and energy issues; promote 3R principle and the production) and product of the .
- summed up the experience of pilot universities, plastic bags for the future to promote the country to establish a good basis for the charging system.
4. target
- in Beijing at least 15 universities to set up plastic bag fee system (including 6 of the Beijing Olympic Games host universities).
- after one year of operation (late 2007), Beijing University, where the action involved the use of plastic bags by 20%. 40% by 2008. In the advent of the Beijing Olympic Games When the National College of Beijing University will become a model, will also become the focus of world attention.
5.
pilot the scheme in order to ensure the smooth implementation, we should first be pilot. The first group of pilot schools Beijing to host the Beijing Olympic Games 6 University (to be designated as The second batch of pilot schools for the Beijing Union University and participating schools outside the province to reduce plastic bags. We hope to welcome 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, those six universities and other universities, Beijing University will become a model, will become the world's attention focus.
6. operation
1) fees and charges from the use of
retailers planning to participate in the University of bags in accordance with uniform fees received from the customer considerable costs (charges in 1 within the range of 3 cents, according to the relevant investigation and discussions with stakeholders it was decided). the retailer received 10% of fee income as operating costs, all the other money will be donated to the Foundation designated to finance environmental protection projects.
explained
specified fee income n the basis of 1 to 3 angle
- from the perspective of environmental taxes and reasonable fees should be located in the marginal social benefit and marginal social cost equal to the position. As plastic bags, the environmental and social cost estimates difficult, the lack of relevant statistical data and other reasons, the use of this theory to set fees is almost impossible [6]. we should consider most important bag fee What is the purpose , then set a reasonable fee. To this end, the need for plastic bags to investigate changes in consumer demand. That is, how it affects the amount of charges for plastic bags plastic bags consumers use. Therefore, we should be in the university campus the investigation. domestic individual retailers have taken the charges and the effects can also be used as reference objects.
- students and consumers are not the same economic conditions. For them, a small amount of the fees will generate sufficient The driving force, will effectively stimulate them to reduce the use of plastic bags.
- although we try to avoid the occurrence of violations retailers (see under the specific measures), but the students do not trust the retailers will be prevalent for some time . charging a high, they will think that the fees are unreasonable, it will abide by the rules of the retailers who doubt or mistrust).
- is implementing the price of supermarket plastic bag fee are: Dia 1 corner, Metro 5 large angle, a small 3 angle, in addition to other IKEA, not to 1 yuan (particularly IKEA bag provided, and their products sold in ordinary supermarkets are different) According to reports, although Di Asia received only one day to angle of plastic bags, but the average use of plastic bags is only 10% of the original. We can refer to these charges and the effect of [7].
the use of plastic bag fee income from fees and charges in 1 n only 10% charged to the retailer because
- if the business can charge all fees and charges income, less payment of their driving force will be less plastic bags. business interests should be the main number of plastic bags from the actual reduction achieved, it will greater driving force to reduce the business of plastic bags issued. Meanwhile, consumers generally felt that would solve the 10% of income as a business
- plastic bag had been placed on the cost price of which, the results for consumers. in fact do not bear the cost of the supermarket. If retailers have to charge all fees and charges income, consumers will want to retailers, polluter pays principle to minimize abuse, and we propose is not the plastic bag tax, we would like to receive the money is to .
2)
fee charging method in two ways:
A. internalization of plastic bag fee payments - the plastic bag fee in the amount recorded in the cash register, and print in the open to customers instrument. In this way, retailers have to open bills (receipt, including invoices, receipts and shopping list), the cost of plastic bags to be disaggregated in the notes above, clearly shows. retailers on a regular basis (eg monthly) fee income liquidation According to records of cash registers to collect 10% of fee income, will specify the rest of the money donated to the Foundation.
the operation and supervision of this approach has some difficulties, the commissary, which do not use instruments, and inadequate financial management, retailers using this charging method is not suitable.
B. using donation boxes - the stage in the collection boxes set up a fund-raising, the money will be charges for plastic bags from the collection staff to the customer before put to (the customer does not directly put money into it). by the school to manage this fund-raising key to the lock box. retailers on a regular basis (eg monthly) fee income of the liquidation, the amount of funds according to fund-raising box, to receive fee income 10%, the rest of the money will be donated to the Designated Fund.
operation and supervision of the charges for plastic bags difficulty, no matter what kind of fees the way, just the beginning of the financial management of small imperfect scale of charges for plastic bags shops exempt obligations (the payment of the amount of plastic bags of small businesses are relatively few, not too school supermarket competitors.) related activities in a large business to get some results and experience, gradually adopt measures to control these small businesses are exempt (eg, the first implementation of thin plastic bags banned in schools, increased ultra-thin plastic bags that depend on the cost of small business operators to make them willing to take plastic bags free of charge. For the campus ban thin plastic bags, please see below).
to strengthen the supervision results, the implementation of the store charges for plastic bags plastic bag consumption recorded an obligation to the outside world open.
3) charge for use of the object
purchase of general merchandise in plastic bags (including biodegradable plastic)
for direct dressed fish, meat, fruits and vegetables and other fresh produce or packaged foods, and for the direct provision of food restaurant or snack bar use of plastic bags The restriction is in accordance with the actual situation of each university decision.
if the other one-time charges after the shopping bag (such as paper bags) excessive growth in demand, then we should also pay for those supplies.
4) how to promote retail reduce distribution of plastic bags and progress reward system --- the system
Global Village of Beijing released all the participating schools and administrative departments regularly publish the amount of retailers to reduce plastic bags and plastic bags issued changes in fee income, and reduce the plastic under the bag ratio (rather than quantity), reward and promote outstanding retailers. before the school and the global village has also set targets to reduce the basic rate of plastic bags. not the goal of the retailers were in regular progress report released shows ; room for improvement in the business