'Plastic Ban Welcome, But Reusable Cutlery Best'

A member of an anti-waste group said on Wednesday that he's happy the government is bringing forward a ban on plastic tableware, but cautioned that it would be better for people to stop using single-use cutlery entirely and take their own containers when ordering takeaway food.

The administration announced on Tuesday that it intended to legislate to ban restaurants from giving out items such as plastic straws, cutlery and plates by the end of 2023. But speaking on RTHK's Hong Kong Today programme, Paul Zimmerman, from the group 'Drink Without Waste', said eco-friendly options such as wood also presented issues.

"Plastic is easy, cheap and dependent on oil but wood is dependent on agriculture and there is competition from food production," he told RTHK's Ben Tse. "So there are issues with these materials.

"If people want to be conscious of that then I urge them to bring their own containers, bring their own utensils and refuse any single-use items."

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Environment and Ecology Bureau said authorities expect the passage of the amended Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance next year, with the first phase of the ban to apply six months later.

Under the first phase, the SAR will prohibit the sale and use of disposable expanded polystyrene tableware at catering premises, as well as disposable plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates.

As for plastic cups and food containers as well as their covers, restaurants will initially be barred from providing these items for dine-in customers, before the ban is expanded to takeaways in the second phase tentatively set for 2025.

The bureau said offenders could face a fixed penalty of $2,000.

However, pre-packaged food and drink products with disposable plastic items, such as straws attached to beverage cartons, and single-use tableware for medical or security needs, will be exempted from the ban.

The government is also looking to bar the sale and free distribution of other plastic products, including cotton buds, umbrella bags, and hotel toiletries, as early as the fourth quarter of next year.