Two-phase war on plastics focuses on small dining items

The SAR administration should promote a "reuse culture" and encourage people to use their own containers while also imposing a ban on single-use plastic tableware from April, Greenpeace says.

This follows the Legislative Council on Wednesday passing the Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Bill, with new rules coming in two phases.

The first phase will begin on April 22, after which merchants will not be allowed to sell polystyrene tableware, straws, stirrers, forks, knives, spoons and plates, while restaurants will be banned from providing such single-use tableware.

Also in the first phase, restaurants will be prohibited from giving out disposable plastic cups, lids, food containers and covers to diners, while free in-room plastic bottled water in hotels and guest rooms will also be banned.

In the second phase beginning in 2025 there will be a total ban on party materials, including balloons and glow sticks as well as disposable toiletries.

Green group campaigner Leanne Tam Wing-lam welcomed the law amendment but said the disposable tablewares to be banned in the first phase are mostly small-sized and there are plenty of alternatives.

"From our previous survey results we found people had already got used to using alternatives for disposable tableware and that the policy focus should be on plastic cups, food containers,and covers, which come in a larger quantities and are larger in size," Tam said.

"We hope that while the administration is banning plastic utensils it also promotes a mechanism of using reusable tableware and food containers."

Tam also said her group found eateries use other disposable tableware made of wood or bamboo, but these should not be the only alternatives.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong will see the waste-charging scheme take effect from April 1. That requires residents to pay for bags in which they dump waste.

Asked if two waste-reducing policies in the same month will cause confusion, Tam said: "These policies already come late when compared to Tokyo and Taipei, and the administration should take the initiative to remind people to reduce waste by legislation."

Meanwhile, the three-day Eco Expo Asia will take place at AsiaWorld Expo from Thursday, drawing some 300 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions. Green transport and waste disposal feature in exhibits.