Waste Management

Plastic Umbrella Bag Proliferation Across Sectors—78% of Banks and 46% of Restaurants Distribute Bags, with BOC and TamJai Identified as Top Transgressors

2022/08/26

Environmental Campaigns > Waste Management > Plastic Umbrella Bag Proliferation Across Sectors—78% of Banks and 46% of Restaurants Distribute Bags, with BOC and TamJai Identified as Top Transgressors

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During the rainy season from July to August, Greeners Action conducted on-site audits across 183 major bank branches and chain restaurant outlets. The investigation revealed that 112 of these establishments (61%) continued to provide single-use plastic umbrella bags, while only a minimal fraction offered alternative solutions such as umbrella racks, stands, or water-stripping machines. Additionally, our organization issued formal inquiries and audited 13 government departments and public institutions to assess whether publicly accessible facilities and government premises were still distributing plastic umbrella bags. The findings indicated that while most government venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) have ceased distribution, certain locations—including select law courts, Community Vaccination Centers, and Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) assessment centers—continue to hand them out.

Greeners Action emphasizes that the regulation of plastic umbrella bags is a matter of utmost urgency and that the government must stop dragging its feet. We urge the authorities to implement a comprehensive ban on the distribution of plastic umbrella bags no later than 2025. Furthermore, major banks and restaurant chains must fulfill their corporate environmental responsibilities and take the lead by immediately halting the provision of these single-use plastics.

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