According to the Opinions on Further Strengthening the Control of Plastic Pollution jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, by the end of 2020, the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws will be banned in the catering industry throughout the country, excluding plastic straws that come with food packaging such as milk and beverages. Many people also have a deep understanding of this rule.

Harbin citizen Zhu Penghong

Since that was promulgated, I have provided paper (straws) since I went to restaurants.

The reporter also visited some shops at random. Indeed, many catering enterprises no longer provide non-degradable plastic straws.

Now all the staff in a drink shop have to change to paper, but there is no plastic. Now the country does not allow the use of plastics.

The staff of the drink shop. We only have paper straws now.

After the implementation of the "prohibition of alcohol", many large catering enterprises, brand tea shops and coffee shops have replaced the past non-degradable plastic straws with paper straws and polylactic acid degradable straws. However, a few catering enterprises are slow to act and still provide non-degradable disposable plastic straws.

When it comes to reasons, some shops are because the original plastic straws are still in stock, and some are because they don't know whether to provide non-degradable plastic straws. In fact, the reason why the "pipe ban order" was implemented is precisely because non-degradable plastic straws are not environmentally friendly. In 20 19, the national output of plastic straws was nearly 30,000 tons, equivalent to 46 billion straws, and the per capita consumption exceeded 30 straws. Plastic straws last only a few minutes, but it may take hundreds of years to degrade. Like paper straws, it degrades faster and is naturally more environmentally friendly. Merchants provide environmental protection straws, which not only strictly enforce the regulations, but also make due contributions to environmental protection.

Harbin citizen Zhu Penghong

In fact, I think paper is ok and more environmentally friendly. Because plastic is not easy to decompose, the paper provided is recyclable, environmentally friendly and may be beneficial to saving materials.

Let merchants strictly enforce the "prohibition of alcohol" and provide environmentally friendly straws. The regulatory authorities will increase publicity and strengthen inspection and supervision. For catering enterprises, businesses themselves should be strict with themselves and practice relevant regulations, so that the use of environmentally friendly straws becomes a common practice! At the same time, the reporter learned from the Environmental Protection Department of Heilongjiang Province that our province will also advocate industry enterprises to develop green design products, effectively increase the supply of green products, guide enterprises to organize production according to the standards of green design products, and strengthen the research and development of degradable materials products.