Plastic Bag Tax; Industry Pushed to Produce Bioplastic
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3 July 2019 21:03 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Customs and Excise Director-General Heru Pambudi said that one of the benchmarks for success in the implementation of plastic bag tax is the drop in the production and use of plastic and the growth of eco-friendly packaging industry, such as those derived from papers or other natural materials.
“We knew that there is plastic made from corn and cassava. This is what we expect,” said Heru in the Customs and Excise office, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 3. Thus, the public needs for packaging could be met and the environment could still be preserved.
Heru explained bioplastic made from corn and cassava could be degraded naturally. On the other side, its function as a bag could be maintained.
“Hopefully, we can encourage all industries to use this kind of bag,” he remarked.
To support the eco-friendly bag industry, Heru said that the government pledged to grant incentives in the form of lower or free duties as well as for the production machine and raw materials.
Previously, the government proposed a tax on a plastic bag at Rp30,000 per kilogram or Rp200 per piece. Heru deemed the price was moderate and was based on the international best practice.
CAESAR AKBAR
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