NEWS | Wednesday, 17 December 2008

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Biodegradable plastic should be encouraged – PL

James Debono
The Labour Party favours the gradual phasing out of conventional plastics through a fiscal regime favouring the use of biodegradable plastic bags.
In the latest budget, the government imposed a 15c eco-tax on every plastic shopping bag irrespective of whether it is degradable or not.
Retailers will be legally bound to issue a tax receipt for any plastic bag issued from their outlet to avoid the present.
But Labour’s spokesperson on the environment Leo Brincat criticised the budget measure for failing to make a distinction between conventional plastic bags and degradable ones.
According to Brincat it would have made more sense to introduce a differentiated tax system which makes a sharp distinction between different types of plastics and which promotes the gradual phase out of conventional plastics.
“What sense does it make to increase the eco contribution on plastics without encouraging a change in mentality to encourage biodegradable bags?”
The Labour spokesperson encouraged consumers to avoid all types of plastic bags by using canvas bags for their shopping.

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