With the clock ticking on a complete ban on non-reusable plastic straws in China by year end, drinks providers all over China are scrambling to put in place alternatives, discovering along the way additional expense and an apathetic public.
随着年底前中国全面禁止不可重复使用的塑料吸管的时间紧迫，中国各地的饮料供应商都在争先恐后地推出替代品，但在此过程中发现了额外的费用和公众的冷漠。
Back in January, China announced its war on single-use plastics. And the timing could not have been worse. With Wuhan going into lockdown just a few days later and every restaurant in the land shuttered, single-use plastic straws were the last thing on people’s minds.
早在一月份，中国就宣布对一次性塑料制品宣战。而且时机再糟糕不过了。几天后，武汉封城，全国所有餐馆都关门了，一次性塑料吸管成了人们最不关心的事情。
Suddenly, August is just around the corner, bringing with it a sharp reminder that from 1 September, the associated law shall be implemented.
转眼间，8月即将来临，尖锐的提醒也随之而来：9月1日起，相关法律即将实施。
The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control on Environmental Protection by Solid Wastes (中华人民共和国固体废物污染环境防治法) will see non-degradable bags and single-use straws banned in major cities by the end of 2020 and in all cities and towns by 2022. There is a caveat, though; markets selling fresh produce will be exempt until 2025.
《中华人民共和国固体废物污染环境防治法》规定，到2020年底，主要城市禁止使用不可降解塑料袋和一次性吸管，到2022年，所有城镇禁止使用不可降解塑料袋和一次性吸管。到 2025 年，销售新鲜农产品的市场将获得豁免。
The law was originally conceived as long ago as 1995. According to the NPC Observer, it has since undergone no less than four revisions and amendments, with the last in April of this year.
该法早在1995年就已开始构思。据《全国人大观察报》报道，该法此后经历了不下四次修改和修改，最后一次修改是在今年4月。
Those who fail to comply with the law from 1 September could be hit with a fine anywhere from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000.
从 9 月 1 日起，那些不遵守该法律的人可能会被处以 10,000 日元至 100,000 日元的罚款。
Tough measures indeed, but arguably necessary incentives given the overwhelming size of the problem now being faced. Last year, China generated 81.84 million tons of plastic waste. Among this, 46 billion plastic straws (approximately 30 for every Chinese person alive), weighing in at nearly 30,000 tons.
确实是严厉的措施，但鉴于目前面临的问题规模巨大，可以说是必要的激励措施。去年，中国产生了8184万吨塑料垃圾。其中，塑料吸管460亿根（约每个中国人就有30根），重量近3万吨。
One plastic straw takes 500 years to degrade.
一根塑料吸管需要 500 年才能降解。
MacDonald’s alone produces 400 tons of plastic straws annually. The fast-food giant told CCTV Finance & Economics that its plastic reduction measures, which comprise stopping the use of plastic straws and fine tuning the design of cup lids, will cover mainland China this year, reported The Paper on 15 July.
MacDonald’s alone produces 400 tons of plastic straws annually.据澎湃新闻7月15日报道，这家快餐巨头向央视财经表示，今年其减塑措施将覆盖中国大陆，包括停止使用塑料吸管、微调杯盖设计等。
Starbucks, for comparison, dishes out 200 tons of plastic straws to its customers in China each year.
相比之下，星巴克每年向中国顾客提供 200 吨塑料吸管。
During conversations with consumers, CCTV found that most people expressed their understanding and support for the ban on plastic straws, but some said that it would be inconvenient to stop using them.
央视在与消费者的对话中发现，大多数人对禁用塑料吸管表示理解和支持，但也有人表示停止使用会带来不便。
Ultimately, consumer education will be key, while other sectors which go through large quantities of straws, such as the growing myriad of bubble tea shops, also face the urgent task to find products that can replace plastic straws.
最终，消费者教育将是关键，而其他使用大量吸管的行业，例如越来越多的珍珠奶茶店，也面临着寻找可以替代塑料吸管的产品的紧迫任务。
Naturally, the increased cost of reusable or recyclable straws is a significant factor. It is understood that the average cost of a plastic straw is approximately ¥0.03, while that of a paper straw is around ¥0.1.
当然，可重复使用或可回收吸管的成本增加是一个重要因素。据了解，塑料吸管的平均成本约为0.03元，而纸吸管的平均成本约为0.1元。
Then there is the problem with inertia. A 2008 ban on retailers giving out free plastic bags has been barely recognised by all but the big-chain stores. And while consumers may voice their support publicly, what they do in reality is another matter. One store owner told CCTV that only one third of their customers would favour a paper straw over plastic.
然后就是惯性的问题。 2008年禁止零售商免费发放塑料袋的禁令几乎没有得到除大型连锁店之外的所有人的认可。尽管消费者可能会公开表达他们的支持，但他们在现实中的做法却是另一回事。一位商店老板告诉中央电视台，只有三分之一的顾客更喜欢纸吸管而不是塑料吸管。
Yet, there is also every reason to be optimistic. Renowned as the world’s biggest polluter, China is showing that she is taking the steps necessary to shed herself of the less-than-desirous title. Meanwhile, the innovation of new materials and technologies shall also go a long way to helping China kick her single-use plastic habit.
然而，我们也有充分的理由保持乐观。中国被誉为世界上最大的污染国，它正在采取必要措施摆脱这个不太理想的头衔。同时，新材料和新技术的创新也将大大有助于帮助中国摆脱一次性塑料的习惯。
