Green Group Slams Supermarkets Over Free Bags

The environmental group Greeners Action said on Tuesday that nearly a third of flat-top plastic bags which are available for free at supermarkets are being taken away illegally.

These bags are usually found near fresh fruit aisles in supermarkets, and can also be used to wrap-up chilled or frozen foods, as well as products that aren't already in an air-tight container.

But the green group says many customers are exploiting the fact these bags are unmonitored and easily available to take more than they need and skirt the government's 50-cent plastic shopping bag levy introduced in 2008.

Greeners Action said an investigation it carried out, including videoing shoppers in stores, suggests nearly 30 percent of these bags are being taken away illegally.

The group's Vicki Wong said supermarkets are shirking their responsibilities by allowing customers to get away with taking them.

"The supermarkets do not properly monitor the use of flat-top bags and they don't successfully collect the fee from the customers. It is indulgent to the customers and not responsible management practice," she said.

Wong also said there is plenty of room for the government to improve the levy, which was aimed at cutting Hong Kong's indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags.

"They should reduce the number of items that are exempt, for example, frozen foods. Actually, the customers don't need plastic bags [for these]."