Some Hong Kong firms struggle to replace single-use plastics as end of ban grace period nears

Some Hong Kong restaurants and hoteliers, especially smaller operators, are still struggling to replace items such as disposable spoons and razors despite a grace period for a single-use plastics ban coming to an end in two weeks.

The transition was also uncomfortable for an alternative utensil supplier, who lamented declining sales even as the government said most players in affected sectors had adapted to the new rules.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said on Monday that the new regulation had “successfully initiated a trend of waste reduction” across various sectors over the past five months.

Data also showed that 95 per cent of businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors had made the switch, according to the department.

“Chained restaurants indicated that around 80 per cent of their customers chose not to require takeaway cutlery, and about 30 per cent of restaurants no longer provide any takeaway cutlery,” it said.

While most restaurants in the neighbourhoods of Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai had switched to providing non-plastic utensils, some smaller ones were still offering plastic cutlery and straws, according to checks by the Post on Wednesday.