Hong Kong is “plastic-free” and restaurants are “moving” | Headlines – Hong Kong China News Agency

Hong Kong China News Service, April 21st, headline: Hong Kong is “plastic-free” and restaurants are “moving”

Hong Kong China News Agency reporter Tan Chang

Tomorrow (22nd), Hong Kong will implement the first phase of measures to control disposable plastic products. There are still a few days left before the “plastic ban”, and restaurants and shops in Hong Kong have already started to “move”. Many restaurants have also responded to the policy in advance and replaced paper containers and wooden tableware.

Hong Kong’s control of disposable plastic products is carried out in two stages. It is not a “killing with a stick” and a direct ban on the sale of all products. In terms of catering, the supply of styrofoam tableware, drinking straws, eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons), etc. is prohibited for dine-in and takeout in both the first and second phases; however, plastic cups, cup lids, lunch boxes, and lunch boxes are not allowed to be supplied. Box lids are still not allowed for dine-in use in the first phase, and only takeaways are exempted. They will not be completely banned until the second phase, and customers will not be able to purchase them at that time.

The Environmental Protection Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government recently visited about 20,000 small and medium-sized restaurants in Hong Kong, and more than 20% of them have switched to non-plastic tableware. As for large chain restaurants, Zheng Jian, assistant director of the Environmental Protection Department, previously stated on a radio program that they will switch to non-plastic tableware on or before the 22nd.

“Alai”, a Thai restaurant on Hong Kong Island, has voluntarily replaced paper lunch boxes for take-out food in advance. Only the lids of the lunch boxes are plastic products, which complies with the regulatory requirements for the first phase of “plastic-free” take-out; as for tableware, it is provided to take-out food. Wooden disposable chopsticks are provided free of charge to customers.

China News Agency reporters found that there are still shops using plastic packaging boxes to deliver takeout, and black plastic bowls are neatly arranged at the takeout area. After asking the waiter, I learned that for dine-in meals, the store has already responded to the policy and replaced it with paper straws, and the tableware are also non-disposable products that have been disinfected and cleaned and can be used multiple times. When the inventory of existing plastic boxes is reduced, the takeaway items will be replaced as soon as possible.

Many McDonald’s on Hong Kong Island used to use plastic cups for frozen drinks and paper cups for hot drinks. The subtle differences have been unified. Now all drinks are packaged in paper cups. Even the plastic cup lids have been replaced by paper, achieving “plastic elimination” in advance. Second stage regulatory requirements.

However, switching to non-disposable plastic products also means increased costs. Some restaurants choose to bear the cost of “plastic-free”, while others choose to charge takeout customers a certain tableware fee to purchase disposable non-plastic tableware, which costs only HK$1 to HK$2.

The fast food chain Foxwoods previously announced that it will stop using plastic disposable tableware starting from the 22nd. If takeout customers need it, they can pay 1 to 2 Hong Kong dollars to purchase tableware packs, which include bamboo chopsticks, bamboo pulp soup, etc. Café de Coral Group also pointed out that more than 380 of its six major catering brands, including Rice Noodles and Shanghai Laolao, are “plastic-free” in advance, and customers can use non-plastic takeout tableware for HK$1.

It is not easy to change your living habits overnight. Therefore, the implementation of “plastic-free” has set up a 6-month adaptation period. During this period, education and publicity will be concentrated. If the requirements are not met, businesses will understand the difficulties. During the adaptation period, law enforcement will not be carried out on illegal businesses; 6 months Only then will the Environmental Protection Agency take action against the “illegal black spots” that persist despite repeated advice.

Customer Ms. Yang believes that although the charge for tableware is understandable, some paper spoons have poor hardness and are inconvenient to use. They soften after being wetted with water, so she hopes to provide more durable tableware.

How to find better alternatives to disposable plastic tableware may require joint efforts from the industry.

Some analysts believe that “plastic-free” is not about creating new “income-generating” channels for the government or industry, but about jointly creating a greener and more harmonious Hong Kong from an environmental protection perspective and from a small perspective on people’s livelihood. (over)