Environment minister says ban on single-use plastic not a punishment

The ban on single-use plastic items will take effect tomorrow (Mon) as environment minister Tse Chin-wan said the goal is to establish a “no plastic” culture in society and not to punish shops and restaurants. 

Writing in his blog on Sunday, Tse said authorities understand that it takes time for society to adapt to the changes and for businesses to adjust their operations. 

Authorities will provide all necessary help when executing the policy and will prioritize education. He also said industries need not to worry too much since relevant government departments will exercise discretion and handle each case “humanely”. 

Under the first phase of the ban, restaurants are not allowed to offer styrofoam and plastic cutleries, as well as plastics straws for dining in or offer for sale for take-out. 

Tse also said Director for Environmental Protection Samuel Chui Ho-kwong recently visited several restaurant chains and noted that thousands of branches, as well as hotels and retailers, were prepared for the new law. 

Tse called on small- and medium-sized restaurants to use the six-month transition period to clear all their stocks of plastic cutleries and order suitable replacements. 

As to the quality of non-plastic disposable cutleries, Tse said apart from those made out of paper pulp, there are cutleries made with pulp of wood, bamboo and sugarcane available. 

Restaurants can order suitable cutleries for their respective cuisines, Tse added.

The environment chief stated that around half of customers have already opted to use their own utensils for takeaway meals.