Shanghai Clamps Down on Disposable Cutlery

By Urban Family, June 20, 2019

This article originally appeared on our sister website, Urban Family Shanghai.

By Urban Family

It can be really annoying when the waimai you just received doesn’t come with any utensils or chopsticks. But you might want to get used to it because this will most likely be the new normal in less than two weeks.

According to a newly released regulation, beginning July 1 all restaurants across Shanghai can no longer provide disposable dinnerware unless customers specifically ask for it. This includes chopsticks, spoons, forks and knives, among other items. Those who violate the regulation will receive a fine of RMB500-5,000, reports Shanghai Observer.

The new law will have a huge impact on food delivery services since the default setting on most apps requests tableware with every order. To respond to the new policy, ele.me and Meituan have announced that they will update their systems. Both companies have confirmed that delivery fees will not be reduced despite the fact that dinnerware will no longer be supplied.

201906/disposable-dinnerware-01-93e0ca.jpg Image via Pixabay

Fast food chains are affected as well. Starbucks has already replaced plastic straws with environmentally friendly paper straws. Now, to cater to the new law, they will no longer provide disposable knives, forks, spoons and cups at the dinnerware counter. If customers order food or drinks to-go, they’ll have to ask for these items. KFC and McDonald’s will soon follow suit.

While many netizens support the new regulation, recognizing the government’s effort to reduce waste, the news is causing all sorts of panic among those who are used to receiving disposable utensils with their orders.

“Does this mean I have to use my bare hands to eat KFC’s mashed potatoes?” asked one netizen on Weibo.

Meanwhile, some netizens are skeptical about the practicality of the policy.

“I can’t see how this is different from the previous circumstances, if all it takes is asking the clerks to get the plastic tableware,” commented another.

Shanghai is getting more and more serious about reducing the amount of waste the city creates. Apart from the imminent garbage sorting regulation, all hotels around the city will also stop providing disposable items starting July 1.

[Cover image via Pixabay]

This article was originally published by our sister magazine Urban Family Shanghai. For more articles like this, visit the Urban Family website, or follow the Urban Family WeChat account (ID: urbanfamilyshanghai).