Taiwan’s Waste Storm
What the numbers say
Most of this surge comes from single‑use tableware—paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils—an issue flag‑rant for environmental groups.
Voices of concern
Lin Yu‑huei, head of recycling at Taipei’s Department of Environmental Protection, warned that the spike threatens Taiwan’s long‑standing goal of cutting single‑use plastic.Tang An from Greenpeace Taiwan added:“We can’t keep rolling back to single‑use tableware whenever an outbreak hits. If we do, all the strides we’ve made in reducing plastic waste are for nothing.”
Quick takeaways
Recycling Boom: New Taipei Sees a 50% Spike in Waste – and the Plastic Puzzle
It’s like the city switched on a giant recycling switch this May, and the numbers didn’t need a calculator to show a half‑again increase compared to last year. The municipality around the capital jumped from consuming throw‑away goodies to tossing them faster than ever.
Plastics: The Secret Sauce of Cafés and Snack Bars
While malls and supermarkets have been getting the memo to ditch single‑use tableware and plastic, the tiny eateries and drink stalls still keep the plastic party going. And guess what? Those same spots have binged the delivery apps like never before.
Chef Pan’s Reality Check
- In June alone, Pan Yen‑ming – head chef at Taipei’s An‑Nyeong Korean spot – spent around T$20,000 (≈$714) on single‑use tableware.
- That expense nudged his raw‑material costs up by a solid 14%.
He admits: “I kinda choose to ignore it, hoping someone else will handle the social responsibility. It’s like pretending I don’t see the plastic pile.”
He adds a theatrical twist: “If you can’t glamorise the packaging, customers won’t even notice you. Think of food like a show‑stopper – the vessel matters as much as the bowl.
The Big Picture: Delivery Condut and Plastic Ties
There’s a clear link: the more food pops out to your doorstep, the more plastic peripheral goods go to waste. Small foundations (think tiny coffee shops, bubble tea joints) are feeling the burn because their deliveries are exploding.
Meanwhile, the city’s recycling stride shows that the larger chains are playing by the rules – but the grassroots players still need a hand with hands‑on plastic pruning.
So, what’s the takeaway?
It’s time for everyone to pick up (literally) the slack and swap out single‑use for sustainable. Until then, we’ll keep watching New Taipei’s trash levels climb faster than the pandemic’s love‑numbers.
