The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passed the "Product Environmental Responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2023" on the 18th to regulate disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products. According to the arrangement, the control measures will be implemented in two stages, with the first phase starting from April 2024, six months after being approved; The second phase of regulation will be implemented in 2025, depending on the popularity of non plastic alternatives.

As for plastic tableware, the "plastic restriction order" prohibits the sale of disposable plastic tableware locally and prohibits any disposable plastic tableware from being provided to customers in catering establishments; It will be carried out in two stages until all types of disposable tableware are fully "plasticized".

The control of other plastic products is also carried out in two stages, including prohibiting the sale and supply of mature substitutes or non essential disposable plastic products in the market, prohibiting hotels and guesthouses from providing free disposable plastic packaged toiletries and toiletries, and providing plastic bottled water in rooms. It is also prohibited to manufacture, sell, and supply oxidized biodegradable plastic products.

Industry insiders say that global plastic reduction is a major trend, and Hong Kong also needs to reduce and stop the use of disposable plastic products. After the implementation of the "plastic restriction order", it is expected to reduce 55000 tons of disposable plastic tableware waste annually and reduce the pressure on landfills. The government should pay attention to the issue of excessive packaging and pay attention to whether there are more and more pre packaged plastic tableware.

To encourage the industry to promote "non plasticization" as soon as possible and learn about related alternatives, the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department has established an online information platform for "green tableware" for reference by the catering industry, suppliers, and the public. As of press release, the reporter saw on the platform that 37 tableware suppliers have applied for registration, including two from mainland China and the rest from Hong Kong.