◀ anchor ▶
From the day after day, disposable cups cannot be used in coffee shops or bakeries.
Disposable items, which were originally banned, were temporarily used during the corona period, but that period is over.
Amid the protests among business owners, the government decided to maintain the regulation itself but have a guidance period for the time being.
This is reporter Lee Ji-soo.
◀ Report ▶
Fill a plastic disposable cup with ice and make cool coffee.
Disposable cups are mainly used for drinking at the store or for packing up.
[카페 이용객]
“Because of Corona, you’ve used a lot of disposables. It’s convenient to use it once and throw it away.”
However, starting the day after tomorrow, disposable cups cannot be used for drinking in the store.
Since the use of disposable cups has been banned since 2003, it was temporarily allowed during the Corona crisis, but that period ends tomorrow.
If a customer is caught using a disposable in a store, he or she can be fined up to 2 million won.
There were voices of dissatisfaction among the business owners.
As the corona virus continues, there could be a fight with customers who prefer to use disposables.
[김종민/커피숍 사업주]
“If customers have a reluctance when they try to offer a ‘multi-use container’ in a situation where their perception itself has not changed yet, it is because the self-employed and customers have a dispute.”
However, there is also a counter-argument that it is not scientific that the necessity of using disposable devices is discussed only in cafes and others because of Corona.
It is said that there is no such controversy in restaurants that mostly use common containers for washing, such as bowls, cups, and plates.
In consultation with the transition committee, the government decided to provide a guidance period in which single-use use is prohibited as originally planned, but fines for negligence are not imposed for the time being.
[서영태/환경부 자원순환정책과장]
“There may be consumers who are sensitive to corona concerns, so (I think) it should be in line with the easing of the corona virus (I think).”
The amount of waste is increasing rapidly, with paper waste increasing by 25% and plastic waste by 19% in one year after the corona crisis, so the controversy over disposable use is likely to continue.
This is Lee Ji-soo from MBC News.
Video coverage: Kang Jong-soo / Video editing: Lee Ji-young
MBC News awaits your report 24 hours a day.
▷ Tel 02-784-4000
▷ Email mbcjebo@mbc.co.kr
▷ KakaoTalk @mbc report
