Hong Kong Launches Innovative Campaign to Tackle Plastic Waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) of Hong Kong has announced a government-funded scheme aimed at reducing the use of disposable tableware for food parcels. The two-month campaign is being carried out in collaboration with three of the country’s major fast-food chains- Cafe de Coral, Fairwood and Maxim’s. As part of promoting the scheme, ECC is encouraging more fast-food chains to join the scheme.

As per the ‘new habits’ scheme, customers who opt not to have plastic spoons, knives and forks along with their takeaway meals, will be awarded a stamp. Those who collect six such stamps will be eligible to earn a free set of reusable cutlery. Alternatively, they could claim a hot drink of their choice for free at any of the above mentioned three fast-food major outlets. This initiative, run by the ECC, aims to reduce the usage of single-use tableware.

Ultimately, the country wants all of its citizens to avoid use of single-use cutlery and bring their own takeaway containers without any incentives. However, such radical change in habits may require more education and may take more time. Incidentally, the Hong Kong administration has already decided to conduct a feasibility study on restricting or banning of single-use plastic tableware before end-2018.

According to estimates, plastics account for nearly one-fifth of the city’s daily municipal waste. The country recovers only 14% of plastic waste for recycling. Approximately 154 tonnes of disposable plastic tableware ended up in Hong Kong’s landfills in 2016.