The Democratic Party of Japan unveiled a bill Wednesday to levy a tax on manufacturers in order to promote the collection and disposal of three types of greenhouse gases known to destroy the ozone layer.
The bill proposes a fluorocarbon tax, the revenue of which would be used to run a center to collect and destroy chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, used as refrigerants in automobiles, industrial cooling equipment and home appliances. Tax revenue would also be used to develop technologies to replace the gases, as well as to collect gases contained in used appliances exported to developing countries.
The draft differs from that under consideration by the ruling coalition in that it would:
* Call for a tax, rather than a manufacturer-supported fund.
* Include destruction of chlorofluorocarbon insulation in home appliances, in addition to automobiles and industrial coolers.
* Obligate collection of the gases during repair and moving of chlorofluorocarbon-containing machines.
Party officials said the manufacturer-supplied fund currently proposed by the ruling parties will not necessarily guarantee that makers foot the bill for retrieval and destruction of the gases. They hope to iron out differences with the coalition and jointly submit a bill during the current Diet session, they added.