On Monday's Backchat, we're talking about the ban on single use plastic.

Starting Monday — which is Earth Day — catering premises will no longer be able to provide disposable expanded polystyrene tableware, which includes single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, and plates. Plastic cups and food containers will initially be banned for dine-in customers, before a blanket prohibition takes place early next year.


On top of that, hotel guests can bid farewell to free plastic water bottles, plastic toothbrushes, and small-sized shampoo bottles in their rooms. Lodging establishments will now have to use alternative materials such as paper bottles and wooden toiletries.


The government hopes this will help reduce waste, and minimise microplastic pollution of landfills and oceans, in line with Hong Kong's ambitions of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.


After 9:45, we talk about a public exhibition celebrating the MTR Corporation’s 45th anniversary, with vintage trains on display in Hung Hom.


9:05am-9:45am: Single use plastic ban 




9:05am-9:30am: Caspar Tsui, Executive Director, The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners

9:05am-9:45am: Edwin Lau, Founder and Executive Director of the Green Earth

9:30am-9:45am: Ronia Sham, Manager (Ocean Conservation), WWF


9:45am-10:00am: MTR 45th anniversary exhibition

9:45am-10:00am: Dennis Ho, Railway Researcher and Founder of P.Nut Creations