With the implementation of a new environmental policy that limits the use of plastic bags and utensils coming into effect today, Environmental Protection Administrator Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said yesterday that the policy is aimed at changing consumers' habit and is not intended to attack or harm the plastic industry.
At public hearing held yesterday morning at the Legislative Yuan, representatives of the plastics industry asked for a five-year delay of the implementation.
Ma Chien-hsiang (馬千翔), an unemployed plastics-industry worker, kneeled down in front of Hau, asking for a job so his family could survive.
"I'm just a laborer. I want to survive," Ma said to Hau.
Hau, however, promised to ensure his right to work.
"I promise to give you a job for survival," Hau said to Ma.
At the hearing, Hau said that real reason behind the policy was so that Taiwan's environmental problems could be lessened.
"We set up the policy because we love Taiwan," Hau said.
Legislators attending the public hearing, however, said the policy misled the public because it would result in the over-reliance on paper materials.
Legislators said the procedure of making paper materials not only consumes more water but also creates more pollution than that of making plastic products. Thirteen TSU legislators are all in favor of a five-year delay.
Beginning today, the second stage of the policy will come into effect, with the ban on free bags and utensils extending to department stores, supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and almost every type of retailer, except street vendors.
The first stage of the highly controversial policy was launched on July 1 last year, when all government-run stores were banned from providing free plastic shopping bags to customers.
Three months later, a ban on disposable utensils and food containers was imposed at government-operated grocery stores and restaurants.
Chen Hsiung-wen
"After a six-week trial, punishments for any offenses will start on Feb. 16," Chen said.
Yesterday afternoon, EPA officials kept in touch with representatives from the plastics industry, discussing possible strategies to solve possible related unemployment problems.
Chen admitted that official records pertaining to the industry did not reflect the real situation because many small plastic manufactures were not registered.
The EPA estimated that the policy would only lead to about 10,000 unemployed workers. However, representatives of the plastics industry claimed that more than 50,000 workers would be affected.
According to the EPA, the Cabinet will spend about NT$1.58 billion next year on creating 8,400 jobs for workers in the plasatics industry who have been laid off.
Representatives of the plastics industry, however, plan to carry out a huge demonstration in Taipei again on Jan. 19 to highlight what they call the unfairness of the policy.
Hau said that the policy would be carried out on schedule, no matter what.
"It matters not only for the common interest but also for Taiwan's sustainable development," Hau said.
RSS