About 70 shops in Hong Kong have allegedly sold banned oxo-degradable plastic products, including waste bags for pets, according to an environmental charity.
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The Green Earth said its investigation suggested that plastic bags, bin liners and waste bags for pets labelled as “oxo-degradable” were still being sold by large retail shops and online stores, prompting lawmakers to accuse the government of not adequately educating the public on the ban.
Hong Kong implemented legislation to reduce the use of plastic products starting in April last year.
As part of the law, the city has banned the production, supply and sale of all oxo-degradable plastic products, regardless of whether they are disposable.
The Environmental Protection Department said oxo-degradable plastics were less environmentally friendly than other materials because they broke down into microplastics, exacerbating their harmful effects on ecologies and hindering recycling efforts.
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Steven Chan Wing-kit, an assistant environmental affairs manager at The Green Earth, said the group’s investigation suggested that about 70 shops were still selling products containing the material as of earlier this month.