Sweden to Recycle the “Cycle”
Swedes to recycle the cycle…the Swedish government is proposing to introduce tax breaks on repairs of everything from bicycles to washing machines. It is encouraging people not to throw out old or broken items, but rather repair them and not buy new ones.
The initiative would slash the VAT rate on repairs to bicycles, clothes and shoes from 25{b050ebef00e2b6e935b95b021e9f55f4ab20ffeed47f29e2aa25a2081fec5bc8} to 12{b050ebef00e2b6e935b95b021e9f55f4ab20ffeed47f29e2aa25a2081fec5bc8}. It would also allow people to claim back half of the labour cost on repairs to appliances such as fridges, ovens, dishwashers and washing machines. The government is also planning on introducing a new “chemicals tax” on white goods and computers, which is designed to recoup costs for items that are difficult to recycle.
Sweden’s minister for financial markets and consumer affair, Per Bolund, hopes that the tax break on appliances will spur the creation of a new home-repairs service industry and reduce the carbon emissions tied to goods which are imported. He also said that the policy was in line with international trends to reduce consumption and that items need to be made to last longer so as to reduce the consumption of raw materials
The proposals will be presented in parliament as part of the government’s budget proposals and if voted through in December will become law from 1 January 2017.
The battle between Consumerism and Recycling
Innitiatives such as this must be welcomed and embraced as they highlight the value that exists in many products that are discarded and dumped, such as that iPhone4, that cd player, that 40″ non LED flat screen tv, that food mixer was was the wrong colour, that vacuum cleaner that had a bag, that laptop that had a minor crack in its screen and that bicycle which weighed more than 10 kilos. By and large the objectives of recycling and consumerism are totally at variance with one another, so before you decide to purchase the newest and latest gismo, pause awhile and ask…. do I need it, is the old one broken, can the old one be repaired, can some one else use it, can I recycle it….but whatever you decide please do not just chuck it in the bin!