China announces ban of single-use plastic bags and straws

Major cities in China will undertake a staged withdrawal of single-use plastics between now and 2022, with plastic cutlery and take-out containers going by the end of 2020; disposable plastics no longer offered in hotels by 2022; and postal outlets no longer providing plastic packaging/bags by the end of 2022.

China stopped accepting the world's recycling in 2018, after a viral documentary on the living conditions of Chinese recycling workers sparked a mass movement; however, China still produces large amounts of its own plastic waste.

As part of a plan to drastically reduce plastic pollution, China's government said the production and sale of disposable foam and plastic tableware, often used for takeout, and single-use plastic straws used in the catering industry will be banned by the end of the year.

China to ban single-use plastic bags and straws [Deutsche Welle]

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