A few new policies take effect this month, with the following most likely to affect our daily life.
Nationwide ban on disposable plastic cups in beverage shops
According to the Ministry of Environment’s “Parties Subject to and Means for Single-use Takeaway Beverage Cups Restrictions” implemented on July 1, 2022, beverage shops are required to offer a NT$5 discount for customers who bring their own cups, and all local governments will be required to devise schedules to phase out single-use beverage cups. With the nationwide ban taking effect from this month, it is expected that the number of disposable plastic cups will be reduced by approximately 790 million each year.
Photo: CNA 照片：中央社
According to the ministry’s statistics, approximately 2.2 billion single-use plastic cups were used in Taiwan in 2020. Under the new regulation, beverage shops will no longer be allowed to provide plastic cups and bottles, or fines ranging from NT$1,200 to NT$6,000 will be imposed, in accordance with the Waste Disposal Act (廢物清理法) .
Earthquake alerts’ scope broadened
In the light of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Hualien on the east coast on April 3 this year, in which residents of Taipei and New Taipei City — where the earthquake was recorded as magnitude 4 — did not receive alert messages, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) decided to review the presidential earthquake alert system.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsun, Liberty Times 照片：自由時報記者蔡宗勳
Starting from Sept. 1, alert messages will be sent to people whose locations are anticipated to experience an intensity of 3 or higher during a magnitude 6.5 or higher quake. This allows two to three more seconds for people to take cover.
The CWA said that the initial seconds following a strong earthquake are crucial for people to respond. Anyone indoors when an earthquake strikes should quickly take cover and stay away from fragile falling objects such as windows and chandeliers/pendant lights. If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings and squat down, covering your head and neck with your arms. If you are in a car, pull over and wait for the earthquake to end before resuming your journey.
Taiyen raises salt prices for first time in 32 years
Photo courtesy of Bureau of Environmental Protection Hsinchu 照片：新竹市環保局提供
Taiyen Biotech Co has been providing a steady supply of edible salt in Taiwan for more than 60 years. The price of Iodized High Quality Salt (IHQS), one of its most popular products, remained unchanged for more than 30 years since its launch in 1992.
Due to rising costs, Taiyen announced that it would increase the price of IHQS and Iodized Superior Fine Salt (ISFS) starting from Sept. 1.
Given that Taiwan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen by more than 55 percent over the past 30 years, Taiyen pointed out that this first price adjustment for IHQS and ISFS was still far below the CPI increase. Despite that fact that salt accounts for a very low percentage of the cost of necessities, to reduce the impact on consumers, Taiyen decided to hold the price increase until after the Ghost Festival, when the public uses salt for offerings to the spirits.
Photo: Hung Jui-chin, Liberty Times 照片：自由時報記者洪瑞琴
(Lin Lee-kai, Taipei Times)
2024年邁入9月，有多項攸關民眾權益的新制上路：
全台飲料店禁用拋棄式塑膠杯
環境部公告的《一次用飲料杯限制使用對象及實施方式》已於2022年7月1日正式實施，除規定自備飲料杯享5元優惠外，各縣市也陸續提報飲料店不得使用塑膠一次用飲料杯期程，今年9月起全國正式全面禁用，預計每年將減少約7.9億個一次性塑膠杯。
根據環境部2020年的統計，全台一次用塑膠杯的使用量約22億個。以後業者將不再提供塑膠杯、塑膠瓶。若業者被發現提供，依《廢物清理法》可處1200元到6000元罰鍰。
地震國家級警報發布範圍擴大
今年4月3日花蓮發生規模7.2強震，而雙北明顯搖晃，震度已達4級卻沒收到國家警報。氣象署事後檢討國家警報發送標準，決定自9月1日起，新增預估規模6.5以上較大地震的預警機制，震度達3級就發送警報，預警可提早2至3秒。
氣象署表示，這數秒至數十秒的黃金時間，對於民眾進行緊急避險至關重要，讓大家能及時反應，例如：在室內應迅速掩護並遠離窗戶和吊燈等易碎落物；若在室外，應尋找開闊地蹲下並保護頭部；而駕駛中則應減速靠邊停車，等待地震結束後再行駛。
台鹽32年來首次漲價
台鹽公司穩定供應台灣民生用鹽，高級碘鹽自1992年上市至今已逾30年未調整價格，基於各項成本逐年攀升，台鹽宣布自9月1日起調升高級碘鹽、特級碘鹽價格，高級碘鹽建議售價由每包（1公斤裝）15元漲至18元，漲幅20%；特級碘鹽建議售價由每包（1公斤裝）20元漲至25元，漲幅25%。
台灣消費者物價指數(CPI)30年來漲幅逾55%，台鹽指出，高級碘鹽和特級碘鹽首度調價幅度依舊遠低於CPI。鹽品在生活必需品的費用占比甚低，但為減低對消費者的影響，台鹽公司避開民眾大量用鹽之傳統節慶，延至中元節後實施調價措施。
（台北時報林俐凱）
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