As Hong Kong prepares to implement a ban on disposable plastic cutlery on April 22, 2024, experts are warning about the city’s prevalent “throwaway culture” and the potential for the ban to simply shift the problem to other waste materials. The ban, which will apply to over 28,000 eateries, is aimed at building a plastic-free culture. However, environmentalists argue that the focus should be on replacing disposable products with reusable alternatives to effectively tackle the root cause of the waste issue.
Currently, Hong Kong is grappling with significant waste management challenges, with 13 dumpsites overflowing and the remaining three landfills expected to reach capacity by 2030. Plastic is the city’s second-largest source of municipal solid waste, with an average of 2,331 tonnes disposed daily in 2021 equivalent to the weight of nearly 70 adult humpback whales.
To address this issue, Hong Kong’s legislature amended the Product Eco-Responsibility Bill in October, implementing a two-stage ban on certain plastic products. The first phase, commencing on Earth Day, will prohibit the use of specific types of polystyrene and plastic tableware that are difficult to recycle. This means no more plastic forks, knives, spoons, or plates for dine-in customers or takeaway meals for office workers. Plastic containers like cups and bowls will be banned for sit-down meals but allowed for takeaway until the second phase, which will depend on the availability and affordability of reusable alternatives.
Despite these efforts, some skeptics remain unconvinced about the ban’s effectiveness. Volunteers cleaning a beach in northeast Hong Kong express concerns about the disposal habits of individuals. They argue that the problem lies in the mindset of disposing once something has been used, regardless of whether it is plastic or not. They question whether society, the government, or the business sector will take the lead in developing a system for borrowing reusable cutlery, similar to Taiwan’s approach.
Taiwan, known as the birthplace of bubble milk tea, has taken significant steps to address its own plastic waste issue. The country uses up to four billion plastic cups annually. Last year, Taiwan introduced measures such as bans on disposable plastic cups, incentives for customers who use their own mugs, and requirements for fast-food and convenience chains to provide free reusable cups. As a result, the capital city of Taipei expects to save approximately 76 million plastic cups from landfill each year.
In Hong Kong, experts suggest that a widespread and convenient cutlery loan system should be developed to allow customers to borrow reusable utensils for takeaway and return them to participating restaurants. Greenpeace campaigner Leanne Tam believes this could be the solution to the city’s waste problem, emphasizing that being environmentally friendly and convenient are not mutually exclusive.
In addition to the impending ban, Hong Kong’s environment minister, Tse Chin-wan, has launched a campaign to encourage the public to actively use reusable products. The campaign, which runs until the end of April, involves over 750 eateries, including major fast food chains, offering rewards to customers who decline disposable cutlery. However, experts caution that a more comprehensive and convenient cutlery loan system is necessary to drive long-term behavioral change and reduce waste effectively.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
