Chinese citizens have expressed their support for their government’s ban on single-use plastic bags and other items.
The state planner said, China is stepping up restrictions on the production, sale and use of single-use plastic products, as it seeks to tackle one of the country’s biggest environmental problems.
The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, which issued the new policy, said plastic bags will be banned in all of China’s major cities by the end of 2020 and banned in all cities and towns in 2022.
Markets selling fresh produce will be exempt from the ban until 2025.
Other items such as plastic utensils from takeaway food outlets and plastic courier packages will also be phased out.
By end of 2020, the restaurant industry will be banned from using single-use straws. By 2025, towns and cities across China must reduce the consumption of single-use plastic items in the restaurant industry by 30%.
China also banned the import of all plastic waste, and the use of medical plastic waste in the production of plastic.
Copyright 2018 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.
