Ban of foam tableware use to lift in May
Staff Reporter 2013-03-31 15:56
Styrofoam disposable tableware, the force behind China's "white pollution." (Photo/CFP)
China will legalize the use of foam disposable tableware in May after it has been banned in the country for more than 14 years. Whether the change will bring benefit or harm remains to be seen, reports the Guangzhou-based South China Morning Post.
The National Development and Reform Commission submitted Decree No. 21 to lift the ban last month. The new law will begin to take effect from May 1. The government argued that a better recycling system and the ubiquity of the foam tableware in other countries justifies its continued use. In addition, the tableware has been proven safe for use, according to the China Plastics Processing Industry Association.
Widespread litter of the tableware caused what was known in China as "white pollution" in the 1990s. The problem was so serious that production and use of the tableware was outlawed in 1999. Nevertheless, many factories covertly manufacture the tableware due to styrofoam's low cost, and the tableware is still widely seen in the catering industry. Allegedly 15 billion pieces of ware are produced annually.
The safety of using styrofoam and the damage it may cause to the environment remains a concern. Food stored in foam containers, when heated, could result in the release of toxic substances into the food, secretary general of the International Food Packaging Association told the Beijing News.
The cost of foam tableware that meets environmental protection standards is high. This is likely to lead to the production of fake tableware that claims to meet the standards but is sold at a lower price.
