The recycling of molded plastic packaging will become mandatory in May 2024, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Tuesday, adding that the new policy could reduce related waste by 16,000 metric tonnes a year.
The packaging material — commonly seen in the form of dividers and clamshells — will be treated similarly to regular plastic containers after an amendment to existing recycling regulations is introduced, the EPA said in a statement.
A formal announcement on the new rules will be made in mid-2023, followed by a one-year grace period before the new regulation comes into force in May 2024, it said.
The new policy has been made possible by increasing environmental awareness in the packaging sector and more advanced and cost-effective recycling technologies, according to the EPA.
Manufacturers and importers will be required to file regular reports with the government detailing the amount of molded plastic packaging they use and pay a recycling fee. Failure to do so, or under reporting of plastic material use, will result in a fine of between one and three times the original fee or an order to suspend operations, the EPA said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel