BEYOND HEADLINES

Stop using Single-Use Plastic Tableware! NO more stirrers, straws, knives, forks, spoons, and plates in restaurants. According to the latest Legislative Council brief (Chapter 603) in 2023, there were 2,300 tonnes of waste plastic in the city’s landfills in 2021, which accounted for 21% of total municipal solid waste. Plastic or polyfoam tableware made up 10% of such waste.

To encourage the general public to develop the good habit of bringing their own containers when ordering takeaways, the Hong Kong government will prohibit the use of single-use plastic tableware in early 2024, with implementation carried out in two phases. Regulation of disposable plastic tableware as below:

Types of disposable plastic tableware	Phase 1	Phase 2
EPS tableware, straws, stirrers, cutlery (forks, knives, spoons), plates	Prohibits the sale to end-customers
Cups	Prohibits the provision at catering premises to customers for dine-in and takeaway services
Cup lids	Prohibits the provision at catering premises to customers for dine-in services	Prohibits the sale to end-customers; Prohibits the provision at catering premises to customers for dine-in and takeaway services
Food containers
Food container covers

(Resource: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202310/18/P2023101800622.htm )

The full legislative council brief: https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2023/english/brief/eeb20230208_20230208-e.pdf