Businesses previously found failed to have complied with a citywide ban on single-use plastics during the transition period will be the first to get checked by officials starting October 21, as the six-month adaptation period ends. The first phase of the ban, which took effect on April 22, prohibits the supply of Styrofoam and disposable plastic tableware for dine-in meals, alongside a prohibition on the sale of these items. Secretary for the Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan wrote in his blog on Saturday that authorities would prioritize inspecting retailers to ensure restricted single-use plastic cutlery and products would no longer be available. They will then receive a fixed penalty ticket if they still cannot meet the rules after the 10-day period. He also quoted the local chain restaurants as saying that the six-month grace period is sufficient for them to clear out their inventory of single-use plastic tableware and make a switch to alternatives.

Source: The Standard October 12, 2024 13:04 UTC