Hong Kong plans new regulations on disposable plastic tableware 
On July 9, 2021, Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department released a draft on “Disposable plastic tableware regulation plan” and opened for public comment. The comment period will end on September 8, 2021. In “Waste blueprint for Hong Kong 2035” released by the Hong Kong government on February 8, 2021, the goal of “0 marine waste” was set. In order to achieve this goal, the regulation of plastic waste is an indispensable measure. The draft of “Disposable plastic tableware regulation plan” indicates a policy to fully regulate the use of disposable plastic tableware in 2 phases. The details are as shown in the table below.
For more information on the “Waste blueprint for Hong Kong 2035“, please refer to the original text at the following URL.
(In traditional Chinese)
https://www.enb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/pdf/waste_blueprint_2035_chi.pdf
(In English)
https://www.enb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/pdf/waste_blueprint_2035_eng.pdf
| Categories | Phase 1 (To be implemented in 2025) |
Phase 2 (Scheduled to implemented 1 to 1 and a half years after the enforcement date of the 1st phase) |
|---|---|---|
| Styrofoam tableware | Sales prohibition to domestic final consumers (including restaurants and places of business) | |
| Prohibition of serving food to eat-in and take-out customers in restaurants and places | ||
| Straw | Prohibition of serving food to eat-in and take-out customers in restaurants and places | Prohibition of serving food to eat-in and take-out customers in restaurants and places |
| Muddler | ||
| Forks, knives, spoons, etc. | ||
| Dish | ||
| Cups | Prohibition of serving food to eat-in customers in restaurants and places | |
| Cup lids | ||
| Food containers | ||
| Lids for food containers | ||
The original text of the above plan can be viewed at the following URL (in traditional Chinese).
https://www.rdpt.hk/files/tableware-con-doc-tc.pdf
