A biodegradable bag dispenser in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province recently launched over 30 biodegradable bag dispensers in sites including residential communities, hospitals and supermarkets.

Residents are able to get two free biodegradable bags each time by scanning the QR codes on the machines.

The launch of these machines comes as part of local authorities' efforts to tackle plastic pollution and raise awareness of environmental protection among local residents.

According to Gao Zhongyi, an employee from Huzhou Hongxin Network Technology Co Ltd, a regular plastic bag can take up to 200 years to degrade. A biodegradable bag, on the other hand, requires only 180 days.

The dispensers, which feature screens showing videos that promote environmental protection, are mostly located near garbage bins so that people can conveniently obtain two environmentally friendly bags when dumping their garbage.

In the Futianjiayuan community in Huzhou, 300 to 400 bags are given out every day.

In May, Huzhou unveiled a three-year action plan to strengthen the treatment of plastic pollution.

By the end of this year, the city will ban or restrict the use of disposable plastic products in public institutions and State-owned enterprises. It will also trial such measures in venues like grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets.