Page 29 - Plastics News July 2021

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

8. ¶V &R RS WR UROO RXW SODVWLF Hong Kong EPD holds
recycling scheme in stores this consultation on plastic tableware

month regulations

ritish supermarket chain The Co-operative (Co-op) ong Kong’s Environmental
Bwill roll out an in-store recycling scheme for plastic HProtection Department
bags and product wrapping this month. The scheme will (EPD) has launched a two-
PDNH WKH UHWDLOHU WKH ÀUVW 8. VXSHUPDUNHW WR XVH IXOO\ month public consultation on
recyclable food packaging and is also intended to help the Scheme on Regulation of
address the ‘postcode lottery’ of kerbside recycling Disposable Plastic Tableware.
collections.As part of the initiative, Co-op will install The scheme aims to reduce
soft plastic recycling units across 1,500 of its stores this the use of items such as
month.By November, the retailer will install the units expanded polystyrene (EPS)
at another 800 stores, expanding the scheme to a total tableware, straws, stirrers,
of 2,300 stores.The initiative aims to ‘give new life’ to forks, knives, spoons, plates,
packaging materials that are unlikely to be collected cups, cup lids, food bowls,
E\ 8. FRXQFLOV 7KHVH PDWHULDOV LQFOXGH FULVS SDFNHWV boxes and container lids.The scheme would initially
bread bags, single-use carrier bags and bags-for-life, lids ban catering businesses from providing EPS tableware
from ready meals and yogurt pots, biscuit wrappers and to customers, as well as the local sale of disposable
pet-food pouches. Food packaging from other retailers EPS tableware. This is intended to protect the
can also be collected at the in-store units. The retailer environment and human health by reducing plastic
estimates that 300t of plastic bags and food wrapping pollution.The ongoing public consultation is due to
could be collected each year once the bins are fully in end on 8 September.An EPD spokesperson said: “The
QHZO\ DQQRXQFHG :DVWH %OXHSULQW IRU +RQJ .RQJ
SODFH &R RS )RRG &(2 -R :KLWÀHOG VDLG ´$V ZH IDFH DQ 2035 proposes to strive towards achieving waste-
environmental crisis, we know from our feedback that free seas, whereas eliminating plastic at its source is
there is a universal appetite for change, which is why the most fundamental way to prevent plastic waste
we are making it easier for thousands of households to from entering the marine environment. “Facing the
recycle all of their plastic food packaging. “This will not imminent problems of marine plastic pollution and
only prevent unnecessary waste but also reduce plastic
climate change, places around the world have been
committed to discouraging the use of single-use plastic
products, including disposable plastic tableware and
exploring the use of alternatives. “As a coastal city,
Hong Kong shall not ignore the issue and has to pay
extra attention to the problem of plastic pollution
DQG LWV LPSDFW RQ WKH HQYLURQPHQW µ 7KH VFKHPH DOVR
proposes that the regulation of non-EPS disposable
plastic tableware be carried out in two phases. The
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plastic tableware from catering premises to customers
for eat-in services but allowing them to be provided
pollution. By offering a simple and convenient solution to for takeaway services. The second phase would ban
an everyday issue, we believe we can help communities these items from takeaway services in a similar way
to make small changes, that together will add up to a big to their being banned for dine-in services. Earlier this
GLIIHUHQFH IRU RXU HQYLURQPHQW µ &R RS FDUULHG RXW D year, the EPD held a public consultation on the Producer
VWRUH ÀOP FROOHFWLRQ WULDO ODVW \HDU ZKLFK IRXQG WKDW Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers
RI VKRSSHUV ZHUH OLNHO\ WR XVH WKH VHUYLFH 3356 SDUW RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V :DVWH %OXHSULQW IRU
Hong Kong 2035.

29 July 2021 Plastics News