Disposing of all leftovers on a plate in the same bin became impossible at certain fast-food restaurants, where trash bins have been separated into different categories in accordance with a new environmental policy on waste recycling that came into force yesterday.
Yesterday morning, Chang Juu-en (張祖恩), head of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), inspected three fast-food restaurants in Hsimenting.
Since yesterday, the compulsory recycling program has been applied to about 600 fast-food restaurants belonging to seven major chains nationwide. Instead of the usual one overflowing trash can, consumers are encouraged to dispose of their waste in four different bins. Leftovers are separated into four categories: leftovers, recyclable materials, regular waste and liquid waste.
Mixing waste from different categories will result in the restaurant being fined between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000.
"Garbage should be regarded as reusable resources which were in the wrong places," Chang said.
A trial program was carried out on July 1 last year at fast-food restaurants. The latest research shows that such restaurants produce about 1,450 tonnes of waste monthly. Reusable materials account for 15 percent of the waste, while food leftovers account for 5 percent.
The EPA estimates that each restaurant can make an average yearly profit of NT$100,000 by selling reusable materials every month. In addition, due to significant waste reduction, monthly waste-handling costs can be reduced to NT$600,000 from NT$800,000.
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
POOR IMPLEMENTATION: Teachers welcomed the suspension, saying that the scheme disrupted school schedules, quality of learning and the milk market A policy to offer free milk to all school-age children nationwide is to be suspended next year due to multiple problems arising from implementation of the policy, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The policy was designed to increase the calcium intake of school-age children in Taiwan by drinking milk, as more than 80 percent drink less than 240ml per day. The recommended amount is 480ml. It was also implemented to help Taiwanese dairy farmers counter competition from fresh milk produced in New Zealand, which is to be imported to Taiwan tariff-free next year when the Agreement Between New Zealand and
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
RSS