The Hong Kong government issued a consultation document earlier and plans to require restaurants to ban the delivery of disposable plastic tableware as early as 2025.
Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, many citizens have greatly increased the number of times they buy takeaways, and there are doubts about the need for citizens to completely change their habits in four years.
How serious is the problem of disposable plastic tableware in Hong Kong?
"Hong Kong 01" went to three fast food chain restaurants and a tea restaurant in Tsuen Wan District at the end of last month (July) to buy takeaways for actual testing. A simple afternoon tea meal with drinks included up to 8 disposable plastic products; and " The tea restaurant with the largest number of "pai glue", as many as 11, is also the only restaurant that uses styrofoam in the test.
Although restaurants may switch to more environmentally friendly tableware or increase prices, many people support the plan.
Some people believe that legislation can become a driving force, and they will bring their own tableware to buy takeaway in the future. Some people say that even if they switch to alternative environmentally-friendly disposable tableware, or buy takeaway with a price increase of 5 to 10 yuan, it is acceptable.
Glue-prohibited series for restaurant tableware:
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The Environmental Protection Department launched a two-month public consultation on the “Control Disposable Plastic Tableware Program” in July this year. It is estimated that in 2019, Hong Kong people will dispose of 1,940 plastic knives and forks per capita, which is an average of more than 5 pieces a day; and recommend 2025 Since 1999, restaurants are prohibited from delivering styrofoam tableware, and dine-in foods are also not allowed to deliver styrofoam tableware.
What is the current situation of the plastic tableware being distributed by restaurants?
"Hong Kong 01" went to the branches of Maxim's MX, Café de Coral, and Happy Huo in Tsuen Wan and a tea restaurant last month to buy similar chicken wings afternoon tea, and compare how many disposable plastic tableware can be produced by one meal.
It was found that the three fast food chains had abandoned styrofoam, and the number of plastic tableware distributed with Maxim's MX tea meal was the least, but it reached 8 pieces.
A takeaway afternoon tea meal has up to 11 pieces of plastic tableware
Maxim's MX and Da Kuaihuo have switched to paper drinking straws, and the chicken wings are also packed in paper bags.
Compared with the two fast food chains, Café de Coral has more plastic drinking straws and plastic boxes for chicken wings; plastic bowls and plastic cups are also used for noodles and drinks, with a total of 10 pieces of plastic.
As for tea restaurants, plastic drinking straws are also used; the amount of "dispensing glue" is also the largest, reaching 11 pieces, and the staff also distributed an extra plastic fork.
The tea restaurant is the only one that still uses styrofoam among the four restaurants.
However, the four restaurants tested this time also used pre-packaged tableware, without first asking customers whether they need to "take the tableware".
Huan Tuan urges to reduce the distribution of "meaningless" plastic tableware as soon as possible
Tan Yinglin, director of the Greenpeace project, said that restaurants still distribute a lot of disposable plastic tableware. The rubber knife will be discarded after it is not used."
She suggested that restaurants should not give disposable tableware by default, and distribute them only when requested by the public. She believes that "large groups have the resources and manpower to do it"; and the government should also speed up regulation and implement relevant controls as soon as possible.
The public said they are willing to bring their own tableware and lunch boxes
After the "Control Disposable Plastic Tableware Project" is enacted, if you want to continue to use disposable tableware, you will need to switch to more expensive environmentally friendly alternatives, and citizens will have to increase the price for takeaways in the future.
Citizen Mr. Huang believes that restaurants are now distributing a lot of plastic tableware.
If the plan is to be implemented in the future, takeaways may have to increase the price, he frankly says he is unwilling to accept the increase, and would rather bring his own tableware and lunch boxes to contain the food.
Another citizen, Mr. Guo, said that now he buys take-out food and eats it at home about once or twice a week. Because there are tableware at home, he usually "takes the tableware" when buying take-out, and only asks for plastic lunch boxes to contain food.
He supports the plan to ban plastic cutlery, saying bluntly, "Bringing your own (tableware) will not be too troublesome, and you can contribute to environmental protection."
As for takeaways such as price increases in the future, Mr. Guo said that "additions of 5 to 10 yuan are acceptable" for a meal.
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Café de Coral: Pay attention to whether the market has viable alternatives that meet the requirements
"Hong Kong 01" also inquired about the use of disposable plastic tableware from three fast food chains and how to eliminate plastic tableware.
The happiest reply stated that it will fully cooperate with the policies implemented by the government and continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and make adjustments in due course.
Maxim's MX said that in 2017, it has completely stopped providing disposable styrofoam tableware to customers; in 2018, dine-in also stopped actively distributing drinking straws, and gradually replaced plastic drinking straws with paper drinking straws.
The restaurant also said that it will actively study the gradual reduction of disposable plastic tableware.
Café de Coral points out that the group has participated in industry discussions related to related consultations. Among them, it pays more attention to whether there are viable substitutes for disposable plastic tableware that meets relevant requirements in the market, and it needs to be leak-proof, strong, and heat-preserving before it can respond. Its restaurants have different needs.
Huang Jinxing: Most people in the market support the regulation of plastic tableware and will regulate it in a gradual manner. Starting from 2025, the replacement of plastic tableware with yellow Jinxing materials will increase. Open to funding the industry. The government intends to ban disposable plastic tableware. Disposal of 5.3 pieces of plastic tableware per person per day. The industry’s materials switch to environmentally-friendly tableware will cost 2 yuan for takeaway. The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to regulate disposable plastic tableware. Consultation plans to ban restaurants from providing styrofoam tableware from 2025
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