China Bans Sale, Production of Certain Plastics

China recently banned the production and sale of “ultra-thin” plastic bags with thickness less than .025 mm and “polyethylene agricultural mulch” with thickness less than .01 mm, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in a Feb. 10 report. China also plans to ban sales of single-use “foam plastic tableware” and cotton swabs, the report said. China wants to promote recyclable materials, especially in plastics, and also has plans to substantially ban plastic waste imports by 2025 (see 2001210024).