HONG KONG: Need a plastic fork at a Hong Kong restaurant?
Come April 22, Earth Day, customers will have to start reaching for more eco-friendly cutlery, according to a bill passed on Wednesday by the city’s legislature.
Plastic waste is the finance hub’s second-largest source of municipal solid waste, with the average amount disposed a day totalling 2,331 tonnes in 2021 — a weight equivalent to nearly 70 adult humpback whales.
The city on Wednesday passed amendments to a “Product EcoResponsibility Bill”, implementing a blanket ban on the sale and provision of various plastic products — with the first phase taking effect on Earth Day, April 22, 2024.
That means in 28,000 eateries across the city, “expanded polystyrene (EPS) tableware and other disposable plastic tableware that are small in size and difficult to recycle” will be prohibited for dine-in and takeaway services, said a government announcement. Serving up soup in a plastic container is also a no-no, though using it for take-out is still allowed — until phase two kicks in.
The government said phase two’s start would “depend on the availability and affordability of the relevant non-plastic or reusable alternatives”.
Freebies in Hong Kong’s hotels and airlines will also look very different — plastic bottles of water or toiletries like plastic-handled toothbrushes, as well as disposable ear plugs, will also be banned. Shops selling glow sticks, party hats, cake toppers and cotton buds will also be taking a hit. Any violations could result in a fine of between HK$2,000 to HK$100,000 (about RM1,218 to RM60,920). – AFP
