Hong Kong Regulates Disposable Plastic Products: An Important Step Towards a Plastic-Free Future

Against the backdrop of increasing global environmental awareness, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed a landmark bill on October 18, 2023 - the "2023 Product Eco-Responsibility (Amendment) Bill." This bill aims to regulate disposable plastic utensils and other plastic products while optimizing the existing producer responsibility scheme. This article will delve into the content of this bill, its implementation timeline, and the potential impacts it may bring.

Regulating Disposable Plastic Utensils: A Phased Implementation Strategy

The Hong Kong government has adopted a phased implementation strategy to regulate disposable plastic utensils, a method that provides the industry with sufficient preparation time while ensuring effective policy enforcement.

Phase One: Focused Regulation

The regulatory measures in the first phase primarily target the following types of disposable plastic utensils:

1. Foam plastic utensils
2. Straws
3. Stirrers
4. Eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
5. Plates

These items were selected as the first batch of regulated targets because they are either small and difficult to recycle or have mature alternatives available. Specific regulatory measures include:

• Prohibiting the sale of the above items to end consumers
• Prohibiting food and beverage establishments from providing these items to dine-in and takeaway customers

It is worth noting that for cups, cup lids, food containers, and their lids, the first phase only prohibits food and beverage establishments from providing them to dine-in customers, allowing the industry more time to adapt to the changes.

Phase Two: Comprehensive Regulation

The second phase will fully implement all regulatory measures, including:

• Prohibiting the sale of all nine types of disposable plastic utensils to end consumers
• Prohibiting food and beverage establishments from providing all nine types of disposable plastic utensils to dine-in and takeaway customers

This phased approach allows the market to gradually adapt while also giving consumers time to develop new environmentally friendly habits.

Regulatory Measures for Other Plastic Products

In addition to utensils, the "Bill" also establishes regulatory measures for other disposable plastic products. These measures are similarly implemented in two phases, covering a wide range of items from everyday necessities to those used on special occasions.

Phase One Regulation

The first phase will prohibit the sale and free provision of the following products:

• Cotton swabs
• Balloon sticks
• Inflatable sticks
• Glow sticks
• Party hats
• Oxidative biodegradable plastic products (regardless of whether they are disposable)

Additionally, hotels and guesthouses will be prohibited from providing disposable toiletries and disposable plastic bottled water in rooms for free. This measure aims to reduce the environmental impact of the hotel industry while encouraging travelers to develop more eco-friendly habits.

Phase Two Regulation

The second phase will further expand the scope of regulation to include:

• Umbrella bags
• Plastic food tags
• Plastic toothpicks
• Multi-ring plastic loops
• Tablecloths
• Floss picks

At the same time, the second phase will also prohibit the free provision of some common disposable plastic products, such as promotional plastic tissue paper, non-medical transparent disposable gloves, and earplugs.

These comprehensive regulatory measures reflect the Hong Kong government's determination to reduce plastic pollution while providing clear guidance for the industry and consumers.

Implementation Timeline and Preparatory Work

To ensure a smooth transition, the government has established a clear implementation timeline:

• Phase One regulation is expected to begin on April 22, 2024, in conjunction with Earth Day
• Phase Two regulation is tentatively scheduled for implementation in 2025, with specific dates depending on the popularity and affordability of non-plastic or reusable alternatives

A spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau emphasized: "To allow the industry to prepare, we will implement Phase One regulation approximately six months after the legislation is passed. We urge the industry to prepare early for the relevant regulations and to build a 'plastic-free' culture together."

Government Support Measures

To assist the industry in a smooth transition, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has implemented several support measures:

1. Establishing an online information platform (www.greentableware.hk) to provide information on non-plastic utensil products
2. Providing information on utensil rental and cleaning services to encourage the use of reusable utensils
3. Building a disposable plastic information platform to share the characteristics and pros and cons of various plastic alternatives
4. Launching the "Bring Your Own Container" program to encourage citizens to bring their own containers for takeout

These measures not only provide substantial support for the industry but also offer consumers more eco-friendly options.

Conclusion

The passage of the "2023 Product Eco-Responsibility (Amendment) Bill" marks an important step for Hong Kong in reducing plastic pollution. Through phased implementation and comprehensive regulatory measures, Hong Kong is gradually moving towards a plastic-free future. However, achieving this goal requires not only government policy support but also active cooperation from the industry and widespread participation from citizens. Let us work together to contribute to building a cleaner and more environmentally friendly Hong Kong.

The content of this article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing. If there are any inaccuracies, readers are welcome to point them out, and we will correct them in a timely manner.

Last updated: October 20, 2023