forests replaced by chopsticks

The Chinese government have apparently responded to concerns about deforestation by slapping a 5% tax on the production of disposable wooden chopsticks. Manufacturers have subsequently increased the retail cost of the product by 30%, and threatened to add another 20% in the near future. The effect of this price hike is being keenly felt in Japan. The nation gets through some 25 billion (yes, billion) pairs a year. And 97% of the sets come from China. Some restaurants are starting to experiment with reusable plastic chopsticks, which can be washed and re-issued over 100 times.