While the exact size of the tax has not yet been decided, or announced, they have studied the matter and have determined that a steep tax could cause a decrease in the use of disposable utensils by as much as 40%. the expected level of the tax is that the prices will be doubled, but that is not official as the exact tax has not been finalized or announced.
If they decide to move ahead with this, it would be going into effect in 2022.
We all know these plastic goods are bad for the environment, but we use them because of the convenience, and they are generally cheap enough to make it worthwhile.
According to the studies, the average Israeli household consumes 7.5kg of disposable plastic goods per person, with sales of nearly 2 billion shekels a year. This is 5 times the amount consumed in the European Union.
According to Knesset studies, 95% of Haredi families use these disposable utensils [regularly], while 57% of the secular population uses them.
Haredi politicians are looking at this as another attack on Haredim rather than as an attempt to do something good for the environment. It seems they, or some, think that the alternative is paying more for disposable utensils and increasing the cost of Haredi living, rather than using less disposables and more regular dishes and cutlery. This could save people a lot of money as it could encourage them to use real dishes and wash them rather than pay significantly higher prices.
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What about the extra increase in water usage to wash all the extra dishes being used? Did they take that into account?
ReplyDeletesomehow I dont think using water is as bad for the environment as using plastics.
DeleteI have in the past seen financial studies that did take into account the extra water used for washing dishes vs the plastic being used. I do not remember the conclusions, but it should be easy enough to find on google
I fully agree that using water is going to better for the environment. I was thinking more along the lines of what happens when the kinneret levels go low again and there are water shortage policies put in place. You're adding more usage of water now, will they recommend disposables then?
DeleteWhat about the time spent washing utensils, the cost of that should be added.
ReplyDeleteNo problem.
ReplyDeleteHire Arabs to wash dishes
Well, the far-left (Labor, Meretz) people are insisting on adding their pet issues to their ministries- gays to Health for Hurwitz, gender issues to Transportation (amazingly) for Michaeli. At least this is pretty much part of Zandberg's actual mission, even if we can debate what's better or worse for the environment. (Trash takes up very little space. Water is very finite.) I doubt she had charedim in mind. (Although the reason there's no deposit on large bottles is...charedim.)
ReplyDeleteperhaps a solution is to increase the recycling methods in Israel.
ReplyDelete