Green Group Urges Timetable For Waste Reduction

A green group on Monday urged the government to map out a timetable to regulate disposable utensils, saying current plans are not enough to tackle the waste problem in Hong Kong.

The government hopes to stop the sale and use of disposable polystyrene tableware at restaurants by around 2025. But takeaway utensils, such as plastic cups and food containers, are not included in the plan.

Greenpeace said it surveyed 1,005 people last month and found that 37 percent reported buying takeaway coffee, on average consuming three cups per week. The group estimated that 400 million coffee cups are being disposed of in a year.

Greenpeace campaigner Leanne Tam called on the government to develop a reusable system for tableware.

"The government should regulate all takeaway plastic disposable tableware in 2025. At the same time, they should have a timetable and planning on how to develop a reusable system. It's like a borrow and return system, of some returnable cups or food containers, because we can see that it's a real solution to solve the cutlery problem, but not shifting those materials from plastic to paper or bamboo," said Tam.

She added that individuals can make an effort by using their own utensils and reducing their use of disposable cutlery.