A worker inspects the quality of disposable cups made from cornstarch Monday in a factory in Zouping county, East China's Shandong Province. This kind of tableware can biodegrade within six months and poses little threat to the environment. However, starting from May 1, the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner, will lift a 14-year-long ban on disposable styrofoam tableware, prompting public concern about the possible impact on food safety and the environment. Photo: IC
