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September 1, 2015

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Regulation bans free disposable products

By Xu Wenwen | September 1, 2015, Tuesday | Print Edition

A new Hangzhou regulation bans hotels, restaurants and other tourism companies from providing free disposable products to customers.

The ban means hotels in the city will no longer be able to provide disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shower gel, shampoo and combs in rooms, according to the Hangzhou Household Waste Control Regulation that is designed to reduce waste.

“The waste and the plastic pollution harm the environment and consumer resources unnecessarily,” said Ge Xianhua, a deputy to Hangzhou People’s Congress who raised the proposal of banning free disposable products in hotels. The proposal was later adopted and developed into a part of the regulation.

The city has more than 4,000 hotels including 600 star-rated properties.

In Chinese hotel jargon, the disposable products are nicknamed the “six pieces.” Star-rated hotels have not had to provide the “six pieces” for free since 2011, although most do.

Some places in the country, such as Guangzhou in Guangdong Province and Changsha in Hunan Province, have already stopped providing the disposable hygiene products for free although customers have the option to pay for them.

“This new regulation will reduce waste and help decrease hotel costs,” said Cai Yaqun, general manager of Hangzhou Ramada Plaza, adding that a five-star hotel generally wholesales the “six pieces” at a cost of about 30 yuan (US$4.69) per set. “It costs a normal five-star hotel at least 1 million yuan every year.”

The quality and price of “six pieces” sets vary. At a local hotel commodities wholesale market, the price ranges from 1 yuan to 20 yuan. A standard set for an express hotel costs 3 yuan.

It is hard to tally how much leftover soaps, shampoos and bath wash are wasted, but a hotel industry insider told Shanghai Daily that “hotels do not reuse leftover soap or shampoos due to sanitary reasons.”

“Some hotels collect used soap, shampoo and bath wash and reuse them in employee bathrooms or bathhouses,” she added. But that seems only a fraction of the large amount.

“Used combs and toothbrushes are sold to ragmen for recycling, but the containers of liquid shampoo are refused sometimes because washing them is too troublesome.”

The cost of the hygiene products is built into the room rate, yes, but to stop offering them is not considered a hidden price hike.

“The move is not about money, rather, it is about reducing waste and creating a habit where people refuse disposable stuff,” said Zheng Shengquan, a Hangzhou Urban Management Bureau official.

Although the regulation was approved by city lawmaker a week ago, Hangzhou hotels will not withdraw the hygiene products immediately because the Hangzhou Restaurant and Hotel Guild is still working on a detailed plan for the next step.

Some hotels in the past have tried removing the six pieces from rooms but found it difficult. One four-star hotel gave up because it had to hire an extra person since employees were overwhelmed with requests for the toiletries.

“It will only work with strict supervision and customers’ support,” said Tian Chaohui, manager of Zhejiang International Hotel’s room service department.

The Hangzhou Restaurant and Hotel Guild said it would publicize the policy in train stations and at the airport.

Hotels also brainstormed new ideas to handle potential dilemmas created by the policy. Hanting Hotel said it will encourage customers to purchase a toothbrush or a bottle of shampoo in advance when booking a room online.

Hangzhou-based New Century Hotel and Resorts has prepared a bunch of plans to inform customers of the change.

“Notices will be sent to customers by text message. There will also be notices in halls and rooms,” said Dai Lingjun, the brand’s media manager.

Hangzhou


 

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