Hong Kong (CNN Business) The Chinese government has announced a new plan to crack down on plastic pollution across the country by 2025, including a ban on single-use plastic straws and bags.

In a statement Sunday, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said both the production and use of a large number of single-use plastics would be slowly phased out across the country by the middle of the decade.

The new policy included a detailed timeline outlining which plastics will be banned by a certain time in areas across the country. Major cities can expect to see changes sooner, while smaller towns or rural areas will be given more time to adjust.

For example, according to the document, the catering industry will be banned from using single-use plastic cutlery in major cities by the end of 2020, while non-degradable plastic straws will be unavailable nationwide.

But there are complicated caveats on who can and cannot use some plastic items. For instance, the plastic, non-degradable tableware that will be banned in many restaurants this year will only be partially phased out in takeaway containers by 2025.