As Hong Kong’s six-month grace period for the first phase of its single-use plastics ban comes to an end on Monday, experts believe the city is well-prepared to extend the restrictions further.
The ban prohibits restaurants from using or selling polystyrene utensils, plastic straws, cutlery and plates. Hotels are also barred from freely distributing bathroom items made of plastic, including plastic-handled toothbrushes, plastic-packed toothpaste, and shower caps.
According to Edwin Lau, founder and executive director of the environmental group The Green Earth, businesses in the city have adapted well to the new regulations.
“Through my observation, I gathered that most of the restaurants… have done a good job to follow the single-use plastics ban, and they quickly can find the alternative,” Lau told RTHK.
While the hotel industry is still working to find alternatives for shower caps, Lau said the rest of the prohibited items have been replaced successfully.
The second phase of the ban, set to begin in 2025, will extend the restrictions to include plastic cups, food containers for takeouts, as well as plastic dental floss and tablecloths. Lau believes businesses will have no trouble adjusting to these additional measures.
“I’m sure with the first phase, they have adapted to the changes quite well. And I believe they are well-prepared for the introduction of the second phase of the single-use plastics ban,” he said.
The Environmental Protection Department has estimated that the catering sector has already cut down on the use of 30 million sets of disposable cutlery since April. The department also noted that 80 percent of customers at chain restaurants have stopped using takeaway cutlery, and 30 percent of eateries have decided to stop providing disposable cutlery for takeaways.
While Lau acknowledged that many of the alternatives for plastic products are still single-use, he called on officials to enhance promotion and encourage people to bring their own lunch boxes and cutlery.
Overall, the transition to a more sustainable future appears to be underway in Hong Kong, with businesses and consumers adapting to the city’s efforts to reduce its reliance on single-use plastics.
