| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject: No more paper cup surcharge. A backwards step? |
 |
|
The Korean government is reviewing their policies on disposable paper cups and paper bags.
| Quote: |
Ministry to ease rules on disposable cups..
The government is looking into easing regulations that require consumers to pay for using disposable cups in restaurants and coffee shops.
The Environment Ministry is planning to make revisions to the existing system. Customers currently have to pay between 50-100 won (5-10 cents) when they do not return the cups used in fast food restaurants and some cafes.
The presidential transition committee recently asked the ministry to draw up a list of environmental regulations deemed unnecessary, ministry officials said.
Not many governments like the United States, Japan and the European nations impose controls to the extent that food outlets are required to recycle disposable cups, ministry officials said. Instead, we expect to grant incentives to restaurants that voluntarily recycle cups or come up with a detailed plan to build a new system that can systematically collect the cups.
Although the money collected from the existing system has been spent on numerous good causes - such as promoting nationwide recycling movements, offering scholarships and supporting environmental organizations - many have bickered about its effectiveness in the past.
The system, which was initiated in 2003, was designed to reduce the usage of disposable cups but sales volumes increased 1 percent in the first half of 2007 compared to the latter half of 2006, officials said.
During his election campaign, President-elect Lee Myung-bak pledged to allow individual businesses to make their own decisions regarding the use of disposable cups.
|
It's a pity that they may backtrack on these policies. I remember when the paper cup charges were introduced. Most Koreans I knew seemed to approve of the plan and it was one of those things that I really thought Korea was taking a lead on.
Maybe they do have good environmental reasons for changing the policy, but I'd like to know more about the sales volume statistics highlighted above. If sales of coffee itself increased substantially more than 1% then an increase in sales of paper cups is not so bad.
Last edited by kiwiduncan on Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
hari seldon
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Location: Incheon
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Is this a possible backwards step? |
|
|
| kiwiduncan wrote: |
The Korean government is reviewing their policies on disposable paper cups and paper bags...
During his election campaign, President-elect Lee Myung-bak pledged to allow individual businesses to make their own decisions regarding the use of disposable cups... |
You mean i won't have to pay an extra 100 won for a Macdonalds milkshake to go? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Did you know, with the current recycling law, you can pretty well automatically get a reward from the government for turning in a business that DOESN'T charge you the fee for plastic bags.
All you have to do is get proof (receipt and cellphone vide) that they gave you a bag without charging....and you get 50,000won. They also get fined. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ryouga013
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| the eye wrote: |
Did you know, with the current recycling law, you can pretty well automatically get a reward from the government for turning in a business that DOESN'T charge you the fee for plastic bags.
All you have to do is get proof (receipt and cellphone vide) that they gave you a bag without charging....and you get 50,000won. They also get fined. |
Where can i find more info on this, I could use a new computer right about now... oh yeah, and think of the rain forest... 
When I got to Korea I thought is was odd that I was being charged for my bag. In the States you get a bag anywhere and there were a variety of stores (ok, I only know of supermarkets) that would give you a 5cent refund for reusing the bag. Being in Korea and seeing the trash everywhere I can't imagine what the streets etc would look like if bags were handed over for free from every store... *shudder  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mr. positive
Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Location: a happy place
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| It'd be too bad if that went away... I've really been impressed with some of the creative, resourceful, and serious efforts at recycling here. Not that it's perfect, but getting people to recycle disposable cups is just one of the many good ideas I've seen here that I didn't see implemented back home in the States. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well, from tomorrow there will be no more deposits on paper cups. Good bye to a good source of funding for a whole raft of recycling programmes and other green projects.
Way to go LMB. Just as with the plan to actually reduce taxes on petrol and diesel rather than finding creative, long-term solutions to Korea's oil dependency, this is another stupid backwards step from a squinty eyed crusty old dinosaur. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blaseblasphemener
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| the eye wrote: |
Did you know, with the current recycling law, you can pretty well automatically get a reward from the government for turning in a business that DOESN'T charge you the fee for plastic bags.
All you have to do is get proof (receipt and cellphone vide) that they gave you a bag without charging....and you get 50,000won. They also get fined. |
Does this include the little black bags from the mom n' pop stores too? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would support Lee Myung Park pouring acid into the Han River if it meant the value of the won would rise  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| endo wrote: |
| I would support Lee Myung Park pouring acid into the Han River if it meant the value of the won would rise |
This is off topic and I don't mean to hijack the OP's thread but LMB does NOT want the won to rise. The official stand is that they will allow the inflationary pressures of the weak won in order to promote 6+% growth in the economy this year.
This is an export driven economy and a weak won means exports are cheap and imports are expensive. This means Koreans will buy Korean products and quit buying imports. It also means it is easier for Korean companies to be competitive SELLERS without having to become more efficient.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| how come you never give proper titles to your boring kiwi environmental posts? i guess deep down you realize... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| billybrobby wrote: |
| how come you never give proper titles to your boring kiwi environmental posts? i guess deep down you realize... |
Well, I think it's a good title and that he's raised a valid question. I guess it's just one more reason to rethink my caffeine habit.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Bramble wrote: |
| billybrobby wrote: |
| how come you never give proper titles to your boring kiwi environmental posts? i guess deep down you realize... |
Well, I think it's a good title and that he's raised a valid question. I guess it's just one more reason to rethink my caffeine habit. |
A title should give you some remote clue as to what's in the thread. Instead, we get this cheesy bait and switch game where I keep thinking "hmm, an ambiguous title, I wonder what that thread is about," only to find it's another environmental policy thread.
Why don't we just have a sticky called "KiwiDuncan's KiwiSoapBox" for all this stuff. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| billybrobby wrote: |
| Bramble wrote: |
| billybrobby wrote: |
| how come you never give proper titles to your boring kiwi environmental posts? i guess deep down you realize... |
Well, I think it's a good title and that he's raised a valid question. I guess it's just one more reason to rethink my caffeine habit. |
A title should give you some remote clue as to what's in the thread. Instead, we get this cheesy bait and switch game where I keep thinking "hmm, an ambiguous title, I wonder what that thread is about," only to find it's another environmental policy thread.
Why don't we just have a sticky called "KiwiDuncan's KiwiSoapBox" for all this stuff. |
I didn't feel baited at all ... and on this site, that's saying something. KiwiDuncan contributes more to these boards than 90 percent of the posters here (not counting all their socks). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've got to admit, I do tend to have a bit of a one-track mind.
The title is edited. Sorry to lure you in. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The new title is better - I have to agree. I'd also like to know more about the alternatives they're proposing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
