Impeach to Impose "Register Sack" Tax by Suginami City

Suginami City (Tokyo Metropolis) authority continued the maneuvers which impose a tax to what we call "register sack" undre the name of "actualization of the environmental advanced city" and "promoting the reduction of the garbage and recycling" et cetera as an excuse. The local diet of Suginami City had a last day of regular meeting at November 29th of 2001, leaving the taxation bill as "continuation deliberation". Although it is not forced, as for concerning the essence, sufficient argument had never done inside or outside of the local diet. In addition, such a problem is not only for Suginami City. We will make the counter people character clear and impeach this maneuver.

The "Suginami environmental intended tax regulations plan" submitted by Yamada Hiroshi, mayor of Suginami City, says that Suginami City, aiming at being "the environmental advanced city" and "tackling with the promotion of decreasing and recycling the garbage and the completeness of environmental education", will impose tax on register sack as one policy "in order to decrease the use of the register sack" which is "one of the primary factor givng load to environment", and most of which are discharged as domestic garbage,if burnt, CO2 which become cause of warming of the earth are discharged, and that as for the domestic garbage which is "discharged in the daily life of the citizen", "a little changing the life style of every day, will enable to make the big effect such as loss in quantity of the garbage".

To justify taxation, under the name of "environmental purpose" from the use aspect, Suginami City authority insist on also "eco stamp" system which gives who has the shopping sack a stamp equal to qabout 4 yen, and that the register sack will not be decreased with just campaign so that the taxation as an enforced way is necessary. On the other hand, from taxation opposite standpoint, its meaning and effect are said to be doubtful because the register sack occupies in the weight base 4% (to tell the truth, it is which City authority side exaggerates) of the garbage all over the city. And the retail industry such as the sales store whose customer probably will decrease, and conviniance store and chain store (super marchet) which will be forced enormous cost burden for installing to the register system by the taxation.

We can find some problems from even just such points: the 1st, why register sack should be taxation? All manufactured products finally become the rubbish or garbage, so the explanation to reduce "load to environment" are lacking in persuasive power. As for the register sack used in order to carry back the goods, is utilized other than storage and finally as the rubbish sack. Mixing the calcium carbonate, there are some register sack considered in utilization as rubbish sack then. Even some local government produce such a register sack type rubbish sack. But, as for the calcium carbonate mixed register sack, from the point of cost, Most of them are used in the major department store and super marchet, and few of them small or private sales store, By the way, there are no department store in Suginami city, so dwellers have to go to ones at the neighboring area, Kichijoji(Musashino City), Shinjuku and Shibuya. In addition, not a few shopping district mainly consisted by small and private sales stores in Suginami City are near the boundary area with Setagaya and Nakano City. Especially at the area taxation will cause serious problem.

2nd, why coercionary power should be used? We can understand that it is necessary to regulate conduct based on the law which had power of coercion if life and activity of private or corporate body are threatened, furthermore in order to prevent the fact that social order is disordered, But however the problem of the register sack is urged, it cannot become the basis which justifies introducing the law which had the power of coercion. Also penal provisions included in regulations plan is said as problem which it passes when it neglects tax declaration and call charge assigning, but you must not overlook the essential problem. Also of course, it is fact that there are not a few excessive register sack above necessity as need. The judgement should be done by everybody's identity and responsibility, never accompanying power of coercion.

3rd; the way of taxation. Since Local Taxes Act was changed, original taxation is examined at the local governments, but some of them should be said as abuse of taxation right. One example is "bicycle tax" plan which Fujieda kazuhiro, Mayor of Arakawa City (at that time) submitted in November of 2000, and withdrew because of opposition and criticism. As for "register sack tax" planned by Suginami City authority, there are serious problems of the way of taxation; rate and regressiveness beyond common sense. The price of register sacks is said to be about 4 Yen. If 5 Yen it imposes a tax to this, tariff becomes 125%. Of course, the price differs depending upon the size of the register sack, being to be about 5 Yen even with those of large one, tariff becomes about 100%. It becomes truly tariff of 500% or more reaching up to the small register sack. This is nothing but to insanity.

In connection with price of the purchased commodity, the tariff whose purchase price is low becomes high, from the fact fixed amount tax, the heavier burden becomes for the person, the fewer their income is. It is the regressive tax. Furthermore, during daily life the tax is imoposed continuously, tax payment amount is unlimited. It is difficult to escape from the burden without cost. Especially the low income person and single and small-scale household whose purchase amount is little, are to be forced overweight burden. As for this you must say it is something beyond the general notion of regressiveness of tax.

We must not permit any exploitation from the people and abuse the weak under the excuse "environmental problem".

(Dec.1.2001)