Hong Kong restaurants may start testing alternatives to plastics in next 2 months

Hong Kong restaurants may start testing alternatives to certain single-use plastics for items such as food containers in the next two months, the environment minister has said, as the government gauges the business sector’s feedback before expanding the scope of a ban.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday gave the update on the second phase of the government’s plan to rid the city of disposable plastic items, after the first stage was introduced in April last year.

“We may launch a large-scale trial as there are more than 100 types of alternatives [to plastics]. Let’s try and see which ones work,” Tse told a radio programme

He added that feedback would also be passed on to suppliers to see how the products could be improved.

Under the first phase of the ban, disposable plastic products such as polystyrene tableware, straws, stirrers and cutlery can no longer be sold or offered by businesses for takeaway and dine-in services. Hotels are also barred from offering single-use plastic items such as toothbrushes, shower caps and bottled water for free.

Authorities have yet to announce a concrete timetable for the second phase, under which they are set to ban all disposable plastics in restaurants. The sale and free distribution of plastic food containers, cups, cup lids, six-pack yokes for canned drinks, tablecloths, earplugs and plastic-stemmed dental floss will also be prohibited.