This Aug. 25, 2020, photo shows food wrapped in plastic containers and bags for delivery at a restaurant in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Controversy is looming over the government’s decision to further restrict the use of disposable products, but allow a one-year grace period to give companies time to prepare.
The Ministry of Environment announced Tuesday that it will further restrict the use of disposable products, including plastic bags, at convenience stores and confectioneries starting Nov. 24.
The measure, however, includes a one-year grace period during which fines will be deferred.
Instead, the government said it will start a participatory campaign designed to encourage the “nudge effect.”
In response, environmental groups are claiming that the grace period has already expired, considering that additional restrictions on the use of disposable products are based on the amendment of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources promulgated in December last year.
“We are questioning the time they took so far to review the new legislation, now that they’ve set another grace period just one month ahead of the new restrictions,” said Kim Mi-hwa, head of the Korea Zero Waste Movement Network.
Retailers, on the other hand, expect that the grace period will allow them to inform customers about the new restrictions and minimize confusion.
“There are a lot of people out there who don’t know that plastic bags will be fully banned,” an industry official said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
