Deep Dive: How effective will Hong Kong’s ban on single-use plastic tableware be in reducing waste?

Starting from April 22 next year, Hong Kong will ban throwaway plastic tableware from restaurants, and it will also stop the production and sale of certain other disposable plastic products. The ban will be introduced in two phases.

The first phase will prohibit the sale and distribution of disposable plastic tableware. It also covers products with non-plastic alternatives. Hotels and guest houses will be barred from giving toiletries in plastic disposable containers and free in-room water in plastic bottles.

Phase two, which could start as early as 2025, will outlaw plastic food containers and the free distribution of products like plastic-stemmed dental floss and earplugs.

Environmental authorities have set up an online platform with advice on non-plastic disposable tableware supply, renting cutlery and cleaning services to help the public adjust to the new rules.

Recycling won’t keep plastic out of our stomachs, lungs or blood, say experts

The ban will come into force just weeks after the solid waste charging scheme. Some lawmakers are worried that the start dates for the two policies are too close.

Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, of the catering functional constituency said, “I hope the ban will not be introduced before May 1 so as to give the industry some more space between the waste charging and this ban.”

Environmentalists are disappointed that the disposable plastic ban is starting later than originally planned.

“Early implementation of the single-use plastics ban could have helped residents change their living habits before the implementation of garbage charges ... Now that the two laws will come into force only 22 days apart, people have to adapt to both in a short time, which may cause a more tremendous backlash,” Greeners Action’s Beatrice Siu Wing-yin said.

According to wholesale and retail sector lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai, restaurants might increase the prices of food since they may need to spend more money to source alternatives to single-use plastic tableware.

Tony Tse Wai-chuen is from the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape functional constituency. Tse added the government should try harder to promote reuse and recycling, so that the city can cut waste at the source.

Greenpeace campaigner Leanne Tam Wing-lam said, “Governments in other places are investing resources to promote reuse to replace disposable tableware ... Otherwise, the industry will switch to disposable tableware made of other materials, significantly reducing the effectiveness of waste reduction.”
Staff writer

Question prompts

1. What is the government planning to do according to News?
(1) advise the public on where to get non-plastic disposable tableware
(2) charge restaurants if they want to supply single-use plastics
(3) ban throwaway plastic tableware from eateries

A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. all of the above

2. According to News, identify ONE benefit and ONE drawback of the ban on throwaway plastic tableware.

3. To what extent do you agree with Tony Tse and Leanne Tam that the government should further promote reuse and recycling? Use News and your own knowledge to support your answer.

Hong Kong students invent smart rubbish bin to encourage recycling

Question prompts

1. Which of the disposable plastic items below is included in the ban’s first phase?
(1) celebratory head coverings
(2) umbrella covers
(3) all biodegradable containers
(4) bath and shower products at hotels

A. (1), (2) and (3) only
B. (1), (2) and (4) only
C. (1), (3) and (4) only
D. (2), (3) and (4) only

2. Choose THREE items from the list and suggest reusable or non-plastic versions that could replace them.

Founders of Plastic Wood Studio on making art with a repurpose

• An environmental group asked 43 of the city’s 46 recycling stations about their recycling guidelines for biodegradable plastics

• The group expressed concern about the overall quality of recycled goods, warning it would undermine residents’ recycling efforts

The Green Earth discovered that Hong Kong’s largest government-funded collection network handled biodegradable plastics inconsistently. It also called on authorities to issue guidelines as these non-recyclable materials become more popular with consumers.

Last November, the group asked 43 of the 46 recycling stations under the Green@Community programme about their recycling guidelines for biodegradable plastics. It found that staff at 22 centres rejected such materials, but those at 13 accepted them, and eight said that they were unclear about the instructions.

“Frontline staff have little knowledge about whether biodegradable plastics can be recycled ... The Environmental Protection Department lacks clear guidance on how to deal with biodegradable plastic products,” said Wenky Cheung Nga-ting, The Green Earth’s senior project officer.

The group warned that if biodegradable plastic entered recycling facilities, it would contaminate the process and compromise the quality of the goods.

The Environmental Protection Department said Hong Kong had no large-scale facilities for processing biodegradable plastics. It said it would communicate with operators and staff at Green@Community recycling centres about how to treat these materials.

Dr Chung Shan-shan is a senior lecturer at Baptist University specialising in waste management. Chung said the varying standards showed the government’s regulations were “behind the times”.

“It would be very frustrating if [people] saw what they had recycled ended up in landfills because those things were incompatible with the conventional recycling scheme,” Chung added. “Such plastics, if they are truly biodegradable, are impurities to recycled conventional plastics, affecting the end-products’ durability and physical performance.”

Taiwan has prohibited single-use products made of biodegradable polylactide because people confused them with conventional plastic products. The US city of Los Angeles has banned straws made of the material.

How much can HK$1 really do? All about Hong Kong’s new plastic bag levy

In a separate study last year, The Green Earth tested 12 samples of disposable umbrella bags collected from shopping centres, commercial buildings and banks – all with labels saying they were degradable. But lab test results showed that all of these products contained polythene, or PE, which is not biodegradable.

The group expressed concerns that a lack of government regulations on such labels would encourage greenwashing.

“Authorities should set standards for such materials so they can be regulated at the source,” Cheung said.
Staff writer

Question prompts

1. What concerns did The Green Earth raise about the handling of biodegradable plastics at Hong Kong’s recycling centres?
(1) lack of guidelines for recycling these plastics
(2) inconsistency in whether to accept them
(3) contamination of the recycling process

A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. all of the above

2. What did The Green Earth’s test on disposable umbrella bags suggest about the labelling of biodegradable products in Hong Kong?

3. How far do you agree that the measures in News could encourage greenwashing? Explain using Issue, Glossary and your own knowledge.

Plastic-gobbling enzymes in worm spit could help ease pollution

Question prompts

1. What does the illustration suggest about environmental protection in Hong Kong?

2. Besides the ban on single-use plastics discussed in News, suggest TWO more ways for Hong Kong to reduce its waste.

Young Egyptians battle plastic pollution by recycling waste into bricks

• biodegradable plastics: refer to polymers that can break down into carbon dioxide and water, usually by the action of living organisms, such as through composting or hydrolysis. They are believed to be less harmful to the environment than conventional plastics, which take up to 500 years to decompose. Biodegradable plastics can be petroleum-based or produced naturally by plants or bacteria. Additives in these plastics that speed up decomposition would undermine the recycling process. In Hong Kong, biodegradable plastics have become popular as a substitute for conventional plastic bags.

• disposable plastic tableware: such as expanded polystyrene containers, plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery. The sale and distribution of these items will be banned under the first phase. It will largely affect eateries that offer takeaway and delivery.

• greenwashing: giving misleading or false information that leads the public to believe a group is doing more for the environment than it really is

• online platform: refers to greentableware.hk set up by the Environmental Protection Department. It lists more than 400 non-plastic disposable tableware products, including those made with paper, bamboo, wood and other biodegradable products, some of which require special composting facilities. The site also provides information on tableware rental and cleaning services.

• products with non-plastic alternatives: sale, manufacture and distribution of these items will be banned under the first phase. These products include cotton buds, umbrella covers and glow sticks. See Chart for more details.

• solid waste charging scheme: starts on April 1, 2024. Under the scheme, the public must buy government-designated plastic bags, which will come in nine sizes, with each litre of capacity priced at 11 HK cents. There will also be a six-month grace period after the regulation comes into force.

Finding treasure in plastic bottles and broken rice cookers

News
1. B
2. One benefit of the ban is the significant reduction of plastic waste in landfills. By eliminating the use of single-use plastic tableware, such as plastic utensils, plates, and cups, the ban can substantially reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by restaurants. One drawback of the ban is that there is a potential for increased costs for restaurants, which may ultimately be passed on to customers. This might result in increased prices for food and beverages.
3. I agree to a large extent that the government should further promote reuse and recycling to cut waste at the source. By encouraging reuse, the government can change consumer behaviour and reduce plastic waste. Also, by prioritising waste reduction and recycling initiatives, the government can address the root causes of waste generation, achieving long-term sustainability goals and minimising the impact of plastic waste on the environment.

Chart
1. B
2. Instead of plastic toothpicks, people can use ones made from bamboo. Transparent gloves used at restaurants to eat fried chicken or seafood are unnecessary – people can use their hands or a paper tissue to hold the food. Instead of shampoo, body wash and conditioners being packed in small, disposable plastic containers at hotels, they can have larger containers that can be refilled and reused. (accept other reasonable answers)

Issue
1. D
2. The test results revealed that all 12 samples labelled as biodegradable contained polythene (PE), a conventional, non-biodegradable polymer. It suggests that there is a lack of government regulations on labelling “biodegradable” products, and there are concerns about the issue of greenwashing.
3. Due to the absence of a ban on biodegradable products in the ban on single-use items, companies may label their products as biodegradable without adhering to strict standards. This can mislead consumers into thinking that these products are more environmentally friendly than they actually are. As biodegradable products require special treatment to break down as intended, if biodegradable products are mistakenly included in normal recycling processes, the quality and efficiency of the recycling process in general will be hindered.

Illustration
1. The illustration suggests that Hong Kong has implemented various environmental protection measures in the area of recycling. The plastic bottles in the illustration, symbolising waste, are slowly transforming into a lightbulb, indicating that Hong Kong is making efforts in recycling to ensure environmental sustainability and waste reduction. (accept other reasonable answers)
2. One way in which Hong Kong can become a more eco-friendly city is by promoting and implementing widespread reuse measures. These include encouraging the use of compostable reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and shopping bags to reduce single-use plastic waste. Also, promoting community-based sharing platforms for items such as tools, cutlery and household goods can encourage the reuse of resources, as well as reduce plastic waste and solid waste in general. (accept other reasonable answers)