Chewing Over Gum Tax to Curb Litter
Date: 24-Sep-04
Country: IRELAND
A government-commissioned study has proposed a 10 percent levy on gum - equal to about five euro cents a pack - in its latest drive to clean up the country. The levy could raise around 4 to 5 million euros ($4.9-$6.2 million) a year.
Alternatively, the study suggested, the industry could agree to fund ways of tackling litter.
"Concerted and innovative action is required if we are to successfully address the litter problem in Ireland," environment minister Martin Cullen said in a statement.
Ireland already has a levy on plastic bags, which stopped shops from giving them away for free and which the government says has slashed the number of bags cluttering city streets or collecting in the countryside.
Clearing up the country's rubbish cost an estimated 70 million euros in 2003 but litter fines only brought in 2.7 million euros. A report into littering last year found that chewing gum accounted for nearly 30 percent of all litter.
But it is not just chewing gum that is in the government's sights: fast-food packaging and ATM receipts are also targets.
Outlets like takeaway pizza joints, burger bars and kebab vans might soon have to provide bigger bins, put their names on all fast-food boxes and wrappers, and take responsibility for cutting down on litter near their businesses.
Failure to do so might pave the way for another levy - 2 percent on all food consumed off the premises - that could generate a further 3.7 million euros for government coffers.
And if banks don't meet proposed targets on cutting down on ATM receipts, taking money out could get more expensive. The study suggests a one cent levy on ATM transactions as well.
The government said the public would be allowed to have its say on the plans before a final decision is made.
