Govt to regulate disposable plastic tableware distribution at restaurants

A two-month public consultation on the Scheme on Regulation of Disposable Plastic Tableware has started today, with the scheme aiming to reduce the use of disposable plastic tableware in Hong Kong.

The government had earlier conducted a study on the feasibility, scope, and mechanism of regulating disposable plastic tableware.

Having taken into account overseas experience and the local situation, the government’s study report suggested introducing legislation in phases to regulate disposable plastic tableware, including expanded polystyrene (EPS) tableware, straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, cups, cup lids, food containers, and food container covers, with exclusions under individual special circumstances.

The Scheme has proposed the control of disposable EPS tableware in the first place by banning the local sale of disposable EPS tableware and the provision of EPS tableware by catering premises to customers.

As for non-EPS disposable plastic tableware, it would be regulated progressively in two phases.

The first phase consists of banning the provision of all types of disposable plastic tableware by catering premises to customers for dine-in services as well as the provision of straws, stirrers, forks, knives, spoons, and plates by catering premises to customers for takeaway services.

In the second phase, takeaway services can be regulated in the same manner as dine-in services.

The two-month public consultation is set to end on September 8.