Hainan to phase out single-use plastic bags by 2020

China's island province of Hainan will phase out single-use nonbiodegradable plastic products starting next year, becoming one of the first Chinese regions to set a timeline for such a ban.

A ban on production, sale and use will take effect first by the end of 2020 for single-use nonbiodegradable plastic bags and eating utensils. The ban will be extended to other single-use nonbiodegradable plastic products on a hit list by 2025, a local environmental watchdog announced at a news conference recently.

It wasn't clear whether the list would include all varieties of such products, but the watchdog said the list will be updated in a timely manner based on local needs. Manufacturers of the first round of targeted plastic products will be shut down by the end of 2020.