China slaps tax on chopsticks
Updated: 2006-03-31 11:05
A Chinese man eats noodles with disposable chopsticks at a restaurant in
Beijing Wednesday, March 22, 2006. China announced plans to impose a 5 percent
consumption tax on disposable wooden chopsticks, in an effort to discourage
consumption of items that are blamed for wasting scarce timber resources. China
makes about 15 billion pairs of throwaway chopsticks a year, consuming some 2
million cubic meters (71 million cubic feet) of wood. The new tax takes effect
on April 1. [AP]
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