Cynthia Busuttil
Shoppers hoarding plastic bags
With a hefty tax introduced on plastic bags, will cloth bags be making a comeback?
People are hoarding plastic bags ahead of the hefty new tax they will be subjected to come January 1.
"Since Tuesday shoppers have been taking loads of bags, probably to keep them to use after January," Doris Bonett, a director of Smart Supermarket, said.
On Monday, the government announced a €0.15 tax on every plastic bag, including degradable or biodegradable ones.
The new regime follows on the steps of a similar eco-tax introduced in 2005 and which saw a €0.02 levy on degradable plastic bags and €0.14 on normal plastic bags. It was initially charged per kilo but changed to a fixed charge per item just days after it came into force.
The change had been resisted staunchly by shoppers who don't seem to be able to get used to the idea of having to do away with it.
Even supermarkets are still trying to come to terms with the new tax and how it will affect their operation.
Chris Gauci, from Wembley Stores, said the new levy was quite high, especially for customers who just bought a couple of items.
"Some of our shoppers are people who happen to be in Valletta and decide to pop in for a few items. Quite a few of them will not have their carrier bags with them. We might be faced with a situation where a person buys something that costs €0.50 and has to pay an extra €0.15," he said.
The possibility that some supermarkets might decide to absorb the cost themselves is worrying Ms Bonett. She pointed out that when the eco-contribution was introduced in 2005, Smart Supermarket started charging consumers, much to their dismay.
"We were penalised for our decision, with many customers saying they would go to a store that was not charging for plastic bags. It is imperative that the government makes sure that everyone has to pass the cost to consumers," she said.
But a spokesman for the Finance Ministry said shops will be obliged to pass on this tax to their consumers and have to include each bag in their receipt.
Park Towers Supermarket manager Daniela Pantalleresco thinks people will be more careful and bring their own bags when going shopping. She said that although the tax introduced in 2005 was only of €0.02, the supermarket had seen an increase in people bringing their own bags. "This time it is higher, so we are expecting more people to use cloth bags or boxes to carry their shopping."
Asked why degradable bags were also being taxed, the spokesman said that although they might not be as harmful as other plastic bags, they still impact the environment. The idea, he insisted, is to eliminate plastic altogether.
While biodegradable plastic breaks down naturally just like food, most plastic bags in Malta are degradable, meaning they can also be broken down through a slow process that requires chemicals.
"Our aim is not to collect the 15c on every plastic bag but to drastically reduce their use," he said.
Environmentalist Marco Cremona said that while it is always best to not use plastic bags at all, the indiscriminate introduction did not provide an environmentally-friendly solution.
"Unless the waste collection system is changed, there will still be a demand for plastic bags as rubbish bags. A differentiated eco contribution would have ensured that these bags would be biodegradable."
The problem with degradable plastic bags is that the process to make them requires the burning of fossil fuels. Cloth bags can be reused for longer and paper bags are easily biodegradable so the best thing to do is phase out plastic bags altogether.
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In Discussion
23 Comments
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philip pace
Nov 8th 2008, 09:07
To Ms Anna Maree Scerri,
Thank you for your reply.
I understood your point of view and am all for it for it,but when politicians take the wrong decisions because they see things in a rhetoric and unproductive way due to their obstinate mentality or are completely out of touch from reality or is convenient for them to make excuses and put the blame on everything under the sun or simply lie or because someone is behind them is pulling the strings, then don't you think that the little bit that we do is in vain as we see all our hard work going down to pieces?
Then what shall we do as you must have realised that what was considered wrong so many years ago now has been considered right and vice versa as if politics have become fashion?
I believe that the more people in power who thrive on theory are the wrong people on the job as they have an incredible lack of being practical.
And what they see are all statistics, polls, surveys which might have been fiddled about to fit in nicely to the million dollars questions. Got my point?
philip pace
Nov 8th 2008, 08:18
RE yesterday's Xarabank, the young minister must have surely realised that he needs to do more in order to convince the public.
I enjoyed the exchange of words between the smiling and smirking young minister and FACTFUL Ms McDonald who pointed out to him where the Government got it all wrong.
However not much was made of the change of direction by the Govt BEFORE the election and AFTER the election. It is very convenient to blame everything on the International crisis.
An excuse which is not convincing as Malta was not really hit (re the banks) as both politicians present agreed about.
Raising the water and electricity bills plus the extra yearly burden of paying of new taxes and the most probable scenario that many factories would opt for a 30 hours working week in the next months WOULD NOT LEAVE MUCH MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.
IF THE YOUNG MINISTER STATED THAT THE GOVT IS NOT LOOKING TO GATHER MONEY ON THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS THEN WHY IT IS SO EXPENSIVE AS MAYBE A SMALL TOKEN CHARGE OF 01C SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT THAN AN EXPENSIVE 0.15C?
I am still not convinced.
anne-maree scerri
Nov 8th 2008, 04:54
to philip pace.thankyou for your feedback. i do realise we are in different countries with different amounts of space.thank goodness we are aware of our environment and that something has to be done.if everyone is discussing it and doing their bit, it will help.no escaping the taxman or the rates here either.
laurence schembri
Nov 7th 2008, 20:06
Let`s face it, you`ve all been taken for a ride. I`m really glad that Ido not vote.
philip pace
Nov 7th 2008, 13:52
To Ms Anna Scerri,
As if the houses in Melbourne are the same as houses in Malta, as if the pavements in Melbourne are the same as those in Malta, as if the streets of melbourne are the same as those in Malta and as if the culture of Melbourne is like that in Malta.
When shall the Maltese ever learn that if an idea works in a foreign country that idea doesn't necessarily mean that it works in Malta for many good and solid reasons.
By joining the EU we are now super exposed to foreign ideas that are very hard to work in Malta, like the exorbitant €0.15c tax on plastic bags which has been forced-I repeat forced on us in such a blatant way.
Some do work but are in the minority whilst others simply don't.
We have so much to learn and understand that this little island with it's overall problems is still a beautiful place to live and that we have to cherish and safeguard our own unique identity of being first and foremost Maltese?
Philip pace
Nov 7th 2008, 11:21
Regarding the €0.15c for the plastic bag.
To all concerned.
Plastic bags especially in Belgium are charged between €0.01 (normal minimal charge) to €0.05 and some supermarkets or big stores do not even bother about charging you on them.
Why is this young Minister nit picking on the smallest of all things, making a mountain of a mole hill, arrogantly pontificating in a place where (un democratically) he cannot be questioned for his patronizing behaviour by Joe Public?
All of this shows the panic behind this wafer thin majority of a Government.
This is just, dear readers, another way on putting more taxes into the bottomless and empty coffers of our countries.
All of this does not add up and Government is not acting upon people's expectations especially those who were conned again and again in the last election.
The only way to make a mockery of this very hard pill to swallow is for the public to store up all the plastic bags NOW until the end of year and use them and use the 'gewlaq' and cardboard boxes available. That is my advise.
DOUBLE Shame on you, Minister
I.Scicluna
Nov 7th 2008, 10:33
If anyone believed the Finance Minister when he said that Government DOES NOT want the 0.15c but is doing it for our "own good" really deserves what he/she's getting! This is a TAX to collect more revenue...period! I felt sick watching the Budget speech on TV. How dare the Minister address us, the Nation, in such a patronizing tone? All the taxes and increases were hidden behind the limp excuse of "environment" or "our health" etc. These taxes are nothing more than a revenue-collecting exercise to solve the problems THIS government's overspending have caused. The chickens have come home to roost and WE, the taxpayers, have to bail out the government to solve the problems it created.
I have a permanent solution to the problem of all these plastic bags.......BAN the production and importation and the problem is solved. Think the Minister will do this? Of course not; MILLIONS of Euros which "he doesn't want" would be lost!
l Galea
Nov 7th 2008, 08:52
anne scerri
As if we are not paying more than enough taxes.
How about working for two days or more per week for the Government simply to pay your national security and income tax contributions?
Do you do that in Australia?
anne scerri
Nov 7th 2008, 02:28
monaco sets a good example,you do not get bags for free- the checkout only has bags of differing types for sale.everybody brings their bags including businessmen who pull one out of their suit pockets.it's not that hard. buy enviro bags that break down quicker for your rubbish,separate your recyclables therefore less real rubbish . home bins are the way to go -it keeps the neighbourhood neat.in melbourne every residence and flat has their own 2 wheelie bins.one for rubbish collected once a week and a recycling bin collected once a fortnight.you pay for this through the council rates .reuse items around the house,ie wrapping paper,containers.buy recycled paper products and items that have less packaging .get an empty box at the supermarket rather than a bag to load your groceries into ,then recycle the box or keep it in the car and take it back and use it again. everyone around the world has to rethink their rubbish disposal its not just malta. we are all are responsible for it so lets all be be responsible..
l Galea
Nov 6th 2008, 22:33
Els Serracino-Inglott
It still does not protect the environment, so as everyone is saying, it is just a tax to fill up the Government coffer which has been too long in the red due to its incompetence.
The environment is simply being used as an excuse to tax, tax and tax the people out of their money.
I didn't hear Gonzipn protesting when the eu ordered Malta to repeal its law prohibiting soft drinks in plastic bottles with the result that we now have millions of plastic bottles polluting our environment.
So the introduction of the tax on plastic baskets is not only simply a tax, but it is also hypocrisy by the Gonzipn Government.
Luke Gatt
Nov 6th 2008, 19:12
Supermarkets can introduce the system used by LIDL were a shopper buys a bag made form canvas for an amount and keeps on using it over and over again
So the rest can do the same they can sell STRONG bags which can take an amount of things and sell them at a reasonable price.
Less talk more action Supermarkets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marco Cremona
Nov 6th 2008, 16:15
@ Henry Calleja.
Mr. Calleja, if you are referring to me I never proclaimed to be an expert - even though my track record and qualifications speaks for themselves. If the Times believes that I can contribute to an article, and asks me for my opinion, I will give it. I will also give my opinion and (free) advice to government if they ask me for it.
And one doesn't have to be a Prime Minister (or a politician) to contribute towards making Malta a better place to live in.
Els Serracino-Inglott
Nov 6th 2008, 16:04
@ I Galea: in cases like that, you just buy a plastic bag for 0.15c. I don't imagine it to happen all the time that one goes out without intending to buy something and then happen to buy the weekly shopping. Once in a while it should not be a problem to have to buy a shopping bag and pay for it.
Everyone seems to be concerned about the environment, as long as they don't have to pay anything to protect it. The polluter pays and if you don't want to pay (so much), don't pollute or make an effort to pollute less!
Plastic bags, be it degradable or not, are harmful to the environment: their production, for which oil is required, and after their use having them lie around waiting to degrade where they can be eaten by animals and where they pollute the environment whilst degrading.
l Galea
Nov 6th 2008, 15:20
EDWIN DE MARCO
Multiply your Gonzipn Government's 15c by how many baskets you use and you will see that it just another TAX to make good for the dire situation which the MINORITY Gonzipn Government has brought Malta into.
Gerard Cassar
The eu dictators have imposed upon Malta to repeal a law that we had that soft drinks must be in glass bottles because otherwise bottlers from other eu countries would not have been able to send their products to Malta.
So you see Gerald, that is how much the eu cares about the environment.
Henry Calleja
You will get your answer next Sunday about how many Jeremiahs are there in Malta. Keep smiling like the proverbial Statue Angel Henry.
Els Serracino-Inglott
What if you happen to be out without intending to buy anything and see something which you then buy? Are you expected to carry a shopping bag or carrier with you all the time?
S.Bonnici
Simple taxes and more taxes to make good for the dire straits which the Government has found itself into due to its own incompetence. The problem is that is is making the people suffer for its incompetence.
Maria Dolores Fenech
Nov 6th 2008, 14:43
@S Bonnici
Because this is merely another TAX imposed by the govt on us.
If not, then why did the govt tax 50c on neon tubes when they are also energy saving?
Il-PN QATT ma kien Gvern tal-Haddiema. L-Amerka eleggiet President tal-Haddiema flok wiehed kapitalist, imma ahna l-Maltin qatt ma nitghallmu. Nissawtu bil-vot taghna stess!
S.Bonnici
Nov 6th 2008, 12:28
Quoting the article -- "On Monday, the government announced a €0.15 tax on every plastic bag, including degradable or biodegradable ones."
Surely there must be a misprint here?!?
Why on earth should there be an eco-tax on environmentally friendly bags???
Els Serracino-Inglott
Nov 6th 2008, 11:54
@ Steve Rogers: I don't agree with what you are saying. You don't have to get plastic bags from the supermarket when you go shopping. There are linen bags, shopping carriers (those suitcase like things on little wheels), a small crate that can be folded (also easy to get the shopping inside the house in one go!). The thing is that people will just not start using less plastic bags if they don't have to pay a price for it. It will take some getting used to, probably, but iI would say that the environment is worth changing our habits for.
@ Francesca Abela: I guess one should calculate what is cheaper: buying the black rubbish bins or paying EUR 0.15 for a shopping bag that can be re-used as bin liner.
Henry Calleja
Nov 6th 2008, 11:12
Why do we always want to find fault with anything done by the government. So many self-proclaimed experts seem to have an easy solution to anything. Why don't take up politics? We would have thousands of Prime Ministers to choose from. But at the end of the day the nation again chose the same government. The one that it deserved. All the other Jeremiahs were discarded.
Gerard Cassar
Nov 6th 2008, 10:52
Gerard Cassar, in my previous contribution I meant cats not cars as typed.
Steve Rogers
Nov 6th 2008, 10:48
The FOUR generous euros per WEEK will be spent on plastic bags. Imagine a family of four shopping at a supermarket - they would need at least 10 bags (or more) to pack their food. Thats an additional 1.50euros more. (Forget about boxes, you need to find them first and the government introduced the packaging waste directive which forces importers to recycle them)
Also, with the rising costs of fuels, it would not be so profitable for supermarkets to make home deliveries.
With four euros a week a family can dine out once - to the local pastizzi take away!!
Gerard Cassar
Nov 6th 2008, 10:47
Is it not strange that government wants to do away with plastic bags while it compels soft drinks to sell their product in plastic bottles? Are plastic bottles less harmful than bags?
Paying 15 cents for plastic bags is throwing away in the dust bin the same amount.
Henceforth we will dispose of our unwanted garbage and other material even plastics, papers, tin etc in dust bins as before or wrapped in news papers or other material Cars and dogs will have a feast and probably rats and all sort of insects. The environment will thus be safeguarded!
0.15 € x 7 = €1.05 per week or €365 every year multiplied by 150 000 households that’s nearly 58 million Euros thrown to the dust or pocketed by the Government to be spent on travelling, costly cars, parties and receptions
And we must not forget that electric lamps will have a considerable amount of duty. Does this include the 5 energy saving lamps?
All is not said yet.
Francesca Abela
Nov 6th 2008, 10:25
OK so we will take bags with us to place our shopping if we do not wish to be charged for the supermarket bags. I suppose now we will start re-using rubbish bins as in the past to place our domestic rubbish (not plastic, paper or tins) ???? In the case of apartments, we will then have about ten or more rubbish bins placed outside our doors. Any other suggestions ?
EDWIN DE MARCO
Nov 6th 2008, 09:39
I cannot understand all the fuss being made about the plastic bags issue. Whoever is to pay, shop keepers or customers, it is only a measly 15 euro cents! Shoppers who are or go to Valletta to do their shopping should rally together & instead go to the scores of restaurants in the city and lunch there. The very generous cost of living increase of FOUR euros per DAY per PERSON in every family would be more than enough to save them cooking at home, saving gas/electricity & eliminating water wastage done by washing up the dirty dishes afterwards. Besides, they could tell the various shops & supermarkets to have their goodies delivered at home. This will probably be done free-of-charge on the part of shopkeepers since they will be saving a lot on future electricity bills, having been given TWO rates, a morning one & a night rate. Normally, the night rate in other countries is half the morning rate. Not so in Malta, I'm afraid. The difference, according to WSC website this week revealed only a few measly euro cents in difference. Apart from the 5% VAT which will be added to the poor shopkeeper's bills! Merry Xmas*!*?