The Regulatory Framework of Taiwan′s Municipal Waste Recycling

In addition to landfilling and incineration, waste minimization and recycling have become priorities in Taiwan's municipal waste management strategies over the past 10 years. Major recycling initiatives being implemented in Taiwan include producer responsibility, "pay-as-you-throw, " and mandatory sorting provisions. Currently, the producer responsibility regime established under the Waste Disposal Act and administered by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) requires that manufacturers or importers of listed items, including containers, batteries. cars, motorcycles ("scooters"), tires, oil, televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, computers, and printers, pay recycling fees to government recycling funds. EPA then uses the recycling funds to subsidize collection and recycling. The 2001 recycling fund budget totals NT$57 billion (NT$35 = US$l). Under the producer responsibility regime, EPA-designated retailers ("sellers") must accept end-of-life items returned to them by the consumers. At the local level, Taipei City implements a pay-as-you-throw program, whereby citizens pay waste collection and treatment fees through the purchase of special trash bags approved by the Taipei City Government. However. recyclables that are separated by citizens are collected free-of-charge by the City. Taichung City and Kaohsiung City, on the other hand, enforce mandatory sorting schemes, whereby citizens face penalties if they don't separate recyclables from the trash before pick-up. These programs have resulted in a significant reduction in municipal waste. Per capita waste collected per day has dropped from 1.143 kg in 1997 to 0.978 kg in 2000. Targeting a 10% recycling rate for municipal waste in 2001. EPA plans to research and develop new recycling techniques, expand the scope of producer responsibilities, and strengthen existing municipal recyclable collection programs. To this end, among other initiatives, EPA has prepared a draft "Resource Recycling and Reuse Act" that would complement the existing producer responsibility programs by incorporating into the current recycling framework the concept of product life-cycle management.