WEEKLY Q: Why is vegetable oil taxed?
Anthony Berretti has driven around Europe for free. He has done so using vegetable oil that he has begged along the way from various restaurants etc.
My question therefore this week, and I have emailed it to Anthony as well as posting it on Environment Minister, David Milliband's blog, is:
Why is vegetable oil subject to tax if you are using it for fuel?
Am I missing something obvious? Surely if the government is serious in greening the world then no tax for using it as a fuel would be the logical step? Or is it more to do with the tax man getting his 'petrol/diesel' cut and the obvious shortfall that would occur if vegetable oil were tax free fuel for cars?
Begs many other questions really...
Thoughts?
Namaste
Al
Technorati tags:
cityhippy
energy
vegetable oil
clean
UK
Europe
tax
emissions
environment
question
climate change
posted by City Hippy @ 1:40 AM
7 Comments:
Definitely should be an exemption!
We had a school bus arrive on the Prairies, fueled by reused chip oil...too cool, it had been on the highway, with no problem at all. This was a big event here...certainly shows the potential of recycled oils.
Good luck with your letter campaign, G
Because it is being used as a fuel that is subject to excise duty and not as a foodstuff. By not paying the duty you are depriving the Government revenue, and that is something they take a dim view of. I don't think the government will change this anytime soon.
Thanks for your comments...G that sounds cool..do yo have to pay duty on it as fuel in Canada?
Andym
So we do not need to find solutions to climate change, we need to find economy-neutral solutions to climate change...two different things of course.
Basically the government do not want any efforts to combat climate change to have any negative effect on the economy. Hmmm...
Namaste
Al
(tried to comment under Becky's 'Ethical Shopping Trip' post but there were technical hitchs)
Over at our blog we have a debate going on for the TOP TEN things anyone can do to 'Save the World'. So far;
1. Walk, cycle, use public transport & lastly, carpool
2. Reduce, reuse, recycle
3. Reduce useage of lights, heating & gadgets
4. Buy Fairtrade & Organic
5. Buy energy efficient products
6. Protect woodlands & green spaces
7. Reduce useage of fossil fuels
8. Conserve water
9. Use more renewables
10. Buy local, reducing product miles
Feel free to contribute!
This is just another case of the powers that be paying far more attention to the economy than the environment. How far will it have to go before drastic measures are taken?
I don't know Al, they tax EVERYTHING here, probably will get to alternate fuels if they haven't already.
I like Matt's list, good reminders to keep in mind.
Cheers, G
This is just another case of the powers that be paying far more attention to the economy than the environment.
Its not even that. They don't tax us for the good of the economy, but rather because they have a never ending way of spending our cash.
As alternatives to fossil fuels need to gain a critical mass to be able to compete, they need help in the beginning. By choosing to not tax it now, they could help biofuels to become much more accepted much quicker. As the technology and know how increases, so will the profitability, and the ability to tax it without damage. The loss would be negligible.
Post a Comment
<< Home