flatulence tax

English

Noun

flatulence tax (plural flatulence taxes)

1. A tax on methane emissions from cows, first proposed in New Zealand.
   • 2001 May 21, “Poop tax suggested for NZ stock farmers”, in Dispatch Online:

     A flatulence tax proposed to offset the damage to the ozone layer by farm animal gases could cost New Zealand farmers up to R15billion,

   • 2005, Harvey Blatt, America's Environmental Report Card: Are We Making the Grade?, page 137:

     We can safely assume they would not favor a flatulence tax. Rice cultivation and associated methane emissions are increasing to feed the exploding population

   • 2005, Dennis Urbans, God Wants You Healthy!, page 183:

     To meet these Kyoto targets, the New Zealand government has proposed a flatulence tax on farmers of sheep, cows, deer and goats.

   • 2007, Noel Botham, The Best Book of Useless Information Ever, page 124:

     New Zealand has abandoned plans for a flatulence tax on animals in the face of fierce opposition from farmers

   • 2008 December 5, “Flatulence tax could bankrupt farmers”, in Independent, UK:

     Belching cows and pigs could start costing farmers money if a proposal to charge fees for air-polluting animals becomes law.

Synonyms

• fart tax