Disposable Goods Will Be Thrown Away for Good

Beginning on February 22, customers will confront a much-altered consumer world when they journey to their local supermarket, corner store, or favorite restaurant.
Those ubiquitous plastic bags used to carry home groceries and other purchases will be curtailed.
Disposable chopsticks, paper cups and other things that we use just once and throw away will be prohibited except for occasions when large people gather for functions like funerals, weddings, and sixtieth birthday parties.
The Ministry of Environment made the decision months ago to enact laws banning disposable products or curtailing their use to safeguard the environment.
Shoppers will be forced to either bring their own bags or pay for plastic bags at stores, and restaurants will have to use reuseable metal chopsticks and glasses.
Restaurants or stores which violate the new regulations will first be issued a warning and any subsequent violations will have the owners fined 3 million won.
Individual districts or wards in large cities or in the case of small cities and rural ares the municipality or county will be responsible for enforcing the law. Various civilian and environmental groups will also act as watchdogs.