21 restaurants fined for breaching Hong Kong disposable plastic regulation one year after ban

21 restaurants fined for breaching Hong Kong disposable plastic regulation one year after ban

Hong Kong authorities have fined 21 restaurants for breaching the city’s disposable plastic ban in the year since the policy came into effect.A customer’s takeout order, contained in plastic and Styrofoam boxes. Photo: James Lee/HKFP.Under the first phase of the citywide plastic ban, which began in April last year, restaurants are prohibited from using styrofoam tableware, as well as most single-use plastic items such as utensils, stirrers, and …

The "plastic-free" law has been in effect for one year. As of this month, the Environmental Protection Department has received 122 complaints, including 112 restaurants providing regulated disposable plastic tableware. 21 restaurants were fined $2,000 for not making improvements after receiving written warnings. The Environmental Protection Department believes that the figures reflect that the catering industry has adapted to the plastic-free la…