One could argue that life in Taiwan was much easier, in a trashy sort of way, when everybody just threw their garbage onto a big pile every evening at some designated street corner. But now that we’re required to actually dispose of our waste in a reasonable fashion, here are some guidelines:
Information for foreigners-Environmental Protection
Household Wastes Disposal
Last update :2009/04/13I. Recyclable containers:
All containers of iron, aluminum, glass, paper, and plastic materials as well as aluminum foil packing that bear the four-arrow “recycling” logo can be taken back to large or chain supermarkets, convenience stores, or warehouse stores. They may also be turned over to the recycling trucks of cleaning squads after separating them into different categories.II. Used batteries:
Leave them in battery recycling buckets placed at large or chain convenience stores, supermarkets, warehouse stores, pharmacies and cosmetics stores, wireless telecom equipment stores, camera and photo equipment shops, and convenience stores at stations of public transport networks.They may also be turned over to the recycling trucks of cleaning squads.III. Styrofoam containers:
For disposable serving wares, fresh food trays and instant noodle bowls, first get rid of residue and then clean them before leaving them at recycling stations at large or chain convenience stores, supermarkets, discount stores; or hand them over to cleaning squads.IV. Waste paper and used books:
First sort and bundle them before turning in to cleaning squads or private scavenging operators. But take out carbon paper, optical sensitive paper, laminations or used sanitary tissues and disposal diapers because they are not recyclable for reuse and should not be mixed with recyclable waste papers.V. Used clothing:
A. Help used clothes to find new owners through flea markets.
B. Fold and bundle them, then turn them over to cleaning squads on designated resource recycling dates.
C. Clean and donate them to various charitable organizations, or put them into the large government-approved clothing recycling chests set up at various street corners.VI. Scrap cars and motorcycles:
A. Owners may call the toll-free resource recycling hotline: 0800-085717 (The last six digits pronounced “ni bang wo chin yi chin” to mean “you help me clean and clean); or use the Internet to find the nearest waste vehicle recycling operators, who will collect them.
B. When scrap cars and motorcycles are found on the roadside or other public places, contact the Environmental Protection Bureau of a municipality, Environmental Protection Bureau of a county (or city) governments or police departments of various county and city governments for quick disposal.VII.
Waste electrical appliances (Refrigerators, air conditioners, TV sets, washing machines and fans):
A. Sell them to stores handling used appliances.
B. Ask original vendors to collect the used products with no moving charges.
C. Use the toll-free resource recycling hotline: 0800-085717 to find out the nearest scavenging operators or collection centers in neighborhood.
D. Contact cleaning squads to leave objects at designated time and location.VIII. Used information technology products (PC cases, motherboards, monitors, hard disk drives, power supplies,keyboards,notebook PCs and printers):
A. Take the used technology products back to original vendors or ask them to collect the used products with no moving charges.
B. Use the toll-free hotline: 0800-085717 to find out the nearest scavenging operators or collection centers in neighborhood.
C. Check the local recycling schedule and turn them over to recycling trucks on designated days.IX. Bulky items like furniture, sponge beds:
Contact the Environmental Protection Bureau of a municipality, Environmental Protection Bureau of a county (or city) governments or the local leaning squad and request the information about methods and times for disposal. However, if the bulky items are too much, residents need to contact the commissioned waste treatment companies for assisting the clearance, and a fee will be charged.X. Kitchen waste:
A. Dry the wastes.
B. Reuse them as pig feeding or fertilizers for plants.
Note: The Taipei City Government has implemented a kitchen waste recycling policy: dividing waste into a) Kitchen waste suitable for pig feed; and b) Kitchen waste for fertilizers. Taipei city residents should separate them and turn them over to recycling trucks accordingly.XI. Hazardous waste:
Separate fluorescent tubes, thermometers and other products containing mercury from other waste so that they will not harm cleaning squad members. Such hazardous items should be handed over to the cleaning members directly.The waste lamps also can be leaved in recycling buckets placed at light vendors or retailers. Use toll-free recycling hotline: 0800-085-717 or Website http://recycle.epa.gov.tw for more information.
