A courier en route to deliver packages in Beiing, Oct 11, 2014. [Photo/IC]

THE NO 4 INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT of Beijing has accepted a public interest litigation filed by the Green Volunteer League of Chongqing against the country's three major takeout delivery platforms, Baidu Waimai, Ele.me and Meituan. Gmw.cn commented on Sunday:

The Chongqing-based NGO's litigation centers on the disposable plastic utensils used by the takeout delivery providers that use the platforms, which it said create a huge amount of waste and serious damage to ecological systems. Customers ordering takeout meals, it argued, should be offered the choice of whether or not they want disposable chopsticks, knives, forks and spoons.

Such an argument is worthwhile, as it is estimated that about 19.5 million pairs of chopsticks are dispatched each day with orders made through Meituan alone, and the takeout orders across the country are estimated to generate 350 metric tons of garbage or more on a daily basis.

So far, the food delivery platforms are yet to require customers to decide how they want their meals packaged and whether they want disposable utensils.

But the truth, although it may sound harsh to the ears of green campaigners, is that very few customers will place a takeout order without requesting disposable utensils even in metropolises like Shanghai, according to Ele.me. That is reminiscent of the unsuccessful ban on the use of plastic bags enacted nearly a decade ago: people still use plastic bags despite the extra cost.

Pointing fingers at the takeout delivery platforms is easy, but it makes little difference if most customers expect disposable utensils with their food. That said, the campaign against this plastic waste will only succeed when more people become aware of the need to reduce waste and the importance of environmental protection.

It will take time, of course, to instill in people the right ideas about green, sustainable lifestyles. In the meantime, the colossal waste of resources and damage to environment caused by the containers for takeout food and the accompanying utensils could be minimized if they were made of recyclable or biodegradable materials.