Fuel Retailers Association prepares to introduce 10c surcharge for single use plastic bags

In support of the government’s national budget announcement, the Fiji Fuel Retailers Association is preparing to introduce the ten cents surcharge for single use plastic bags on 1st August in seventy‑five service stations around the country.

The Secretary for the Fiji Fuel Retailers Association John Philp says that each year approximately four and a half million single use plastic bags are used at convenience stores in the fuel service stations.

He says they will be encouraging all their accredited members to go a step further by introducing biodegradable plastic bags for car owners and customers that purchase goods at fuel service stations.

The Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy that was announced in the 2017–2018 national budget is payable by a customer when provided a plastic bag from retailers that use a Point of Sale system and will be reflected on invoices and receipts.

The Bill to amend the Environment Levy Act 2015 states that the monies collected from the plastic bag surcharge will be channeled into the newly established Fijian Government Environment and Climate Adaptation Fund which will be utilized for funding environmental projects and activities.

Philp says their messaging will focus on encouraging customers to completely ditch single use of plastic bags that end up in our waterways which fish, turtles and other marine life confuse for food.