TOKYO -- Japan's restaurants and retailers will soon have to stop giving away plastic forks, spoons and containers under a law passed Friday to cut down on such waste, instead looking into such options as charging for utensils, switching to biodegradables, or letting customers fend for themselves.
Environment
Days of free plastic forks and straws numbered under new Japan law
Restaurants hunt for innovative solutions to cut down on single-use waste
Starbucks has begun selling reusable straws in Japan. The coffee shop operator said in 2018 that it would phase out single-use plastic straws worldwide. (Photo courtesy of Starbucks Coffee Japan)
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