Ministry defends eco-tax on plastic bags
It is senseless to impose a tax differentiating between types of plastic bags when people could simply go to Sicily and purchase plastic bags at will, the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry said.
The ministry was reacting to a statement made on Monday by Labour Environment spokesman Leo Brincat, who said that taxes should distinguish between conventional and biodegradable plastic bags.
The ministry in a statement insisted that unless the sale of plastic bags is not banned in all countries, the most effective measure to incentivise the use of bags made from alternative materials was still to impose an eco-contribution tax on plastic bags.
The spokesman pointed out that the Finance Ministry's message in the recent budget was clear: the government intends to reduce the amount of plastic bags in circulation and not collect money. To this end, he insisted, the government applied an eco-contribution of €0.15 on every bag which has to be paid upon purchase and shown in the transaction's receipt.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Petrol price up 6c
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Jonathan Bianco
Dec 29th 2008, 07:09
This is a ridiculous tax - Greenpeace have declared that BIODEGRADABLE bags are the most eco friendly source of packaging available today and much bettar than paper as paper comes from trees which are cut down to produce the paper bags and cartons. You also have bags which come in different sizes like 10cms x 10cms or 1mtr x 1.5 mtrs etc - so how logic is it to charge 15c on every bag irrespective of of its size ! The tax should only be placed against bags which are not biodegradable and inspections on abuse in this field would be easier than checks on all bags being used from every shop.
Charles Micallef
Dec 23rd 2008, 10:10
I do think that we have all become very lazy, when it comes to environmental issues, while I appreciated that some do make good use of second hand plastic bags, some of us are also downright lazy, and do not bother to take the old plastic backs to the supermarkets when they go shopping because they are given free with the shopping. One can also notice a number of plastic bags discarded and littering our streets.
The only solution is only a matter of common sense and awareness!
philip pace
Dec 23rd 2008, 09:15
I have already written about this and from the inset it looks clear that the Government has used this to gather more money without any shadow of a doubt.
The Minister responsible and his cohorts are not that reslly convincing in their arguments as the main issue is not the environment but taxes.
Somebody from Ireland wrote that they pay 22c for a bag but he never took into the equstion their pay packets over there and the size of the bags in question.
Personally I have paid 1c in Belgium for a very large bag the size of a large pillow case. Yes there are some other shops who charge you from 1c, 3c and 5c.
Now our bags are very small compared with these and the Minister should lower the tax and specify the sizes with their respective tax charge.
I would encourage the Minister to do and save face.
This is a hidden exercise to catch those shop owners who do not punch their sales on the cash register and fail to give you a receipt and these are a lot.
So watch out!
Steve Rogers
Dec 22nd 2008, 16:59
Ministers stop hiding behind the Environment. Other countries implement programs in regards to plastic bags without taxing the customer. see http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2008/2008-12-15-096.asp
This is all a smokescreen to tax us, responsible governments react responsibly!
lgalea
Dec 22nd 2008, 12:55
Why doesn't the lackey Ministry and Government defy the eu and impose a tax on imported plastic bottles millions of which are being sent to Malta by other countries bottlers and pollution our environment?
H Dempster
Dec 22nd 2008, 12:50
I generally have 2 jobs which i do when using plastic bags. 1 , to carry my shopping, and 2 to pick up my dog's poo.
However , now that we will start paying 15 c per bag i will have to revise my strategy, by using boxes, cartons and shopping bags to carry my shopping . but what do i do to cleanse after my dog . I for one will use the plastic bags in which we buy our daily bread, but i can forsee a greater amount poo on the pavements. so in actual fact the environmental problem is still there , if not stinkier.