Most of the 'wax lined' paper cups you're talking about are plastic coated paper cups in reality, and the actual wax lined ones are very bad for one's health.

Most of the 'wax lined' paper cups you're talking about are plastic coated paper cups in reality, and the actual wax lined ones are very bad for one's health. So you are saying businesses had a whole 3 months time to find a reasonably priced plastic alternative that has the same properties as plastic (insoluble in liquid, durability, flexibility, and lightweight nature) but are eco-friendly and bio-degradable, which is a problem researchers of the world have no solution to? :) . In my opinion it was also government's job to suggest those cheap alternatives, or even give subsidy on them at least for the time being. There is a reason rest of the world hasn't done it so far, because when they take some decision, it's backed by proper research by experts including suggesting the alternatives.