Citywide ban on single-use plastics comes into effect today

The new legislation for the regulation of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products comes into effect on Monday (April 22).

Restaurants are banned from providing and selling styrofoam tableware, plastic drinking straws, stirrers, plastic plates, plastic eating utensils (forks, knives and spoons), and hotels are also banned from providing free toiletries, such as toothbrushes with plastic handles, toothpaste packaged in plastic, shower caps, and so on.

Restaurants can replace tableware with non-plastic ones made of wood or paper, etc. within the next six months. The government says it won't issue fines for breaches of the ban during that period.