Many diners in Handan, Hebei province, are hailing a new rule at buffet restaurants requiring a deposit of 10 yuan ($1.60) before loading up a plate. The deposit is supposed to discourage waste, Yanzhao Evening News reported.

Many buffet restaurants in the city have asked diners to pay the deposit. If a diner does not leave a pile of uneaten meat, fish or shrimp on his plate, the deposit is refunded.

A diner surnamed Liu was quoted as saying that she saw many people waste a lot of food in buffet restaurants before the rule was introduced.

A waiter said that since the new practice was introduced, fewer than 10 percent of diners waste food.