Since July 1, 2022, Taiwan has implemented the "Single-Use Beverage Cup Restriction Policy" aimed at reducing the use of disposable beverage cups. By bringing your own cup, consumers can enjoy a discount of NT$5, and chain fast-food restaurants and convenience stores offer free borrowing services for reusable cups, resulting in a 17% reduction in the use of single-use beverage cups. It is estimated that approximately 790 million plastic single-use beverage cups will be replaced annually by other materials, personal reusable cups, or borrowed reusable cups. As of now, 21 counties and cities across Taiwan no longer provide single-use plastic beverage cups, and a nationwide ban is expected to be fully implemented by September 2024.
According to statistics, in 2023, 15 brands of chain convenience stores and fast-food restaurants (including 7 convenience stores and 8 fast-food restaurants) provided a total of 1,763 stores, accounting for 12% of the total number of stores, and offered about 198,000 reusable cups for borrowing. Consumers brought their own beverage cups 160 million times, with the rate of bringing personal cups increasing by 2.8 times, indicating the policy's success in guiding behavioral changes.
The Resource Recycling Agency has established the "Guidelines for Proper Service of Reusable (Borrowed) Cups," covering six major aspects: cup materials and labeling, borrowing and returning, cleaning, inspection, communication of environmental concepts, and service standards. Businesses are required to provide inspection reports every six months, and in 2023, all businesses' inspection reports passed, ensuring the safety of reusable cup usage.
Guidelines for Proper Service of Reusable (Borrowed) Cups (Image / Courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency's Official Website)
In the future, the Resource Recycling Agency plans to expand the reusable cup rental system and is considering introducing reusable cups at professional baseball games and in enclosed venues, allowing more people to experience and get used to using reusable cups. The Resource Recycling Agency of the Ministry of Environment once again urges the public to bring their own eco-friendly cups when buying beverages. If you forget, you can borrow a reusable cup, which helps reduce waste and allows you to enjoy discounts.
