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Government starts crackdown to enforce restrictions on plastic bags

The government will begin cracking down on those who violate restrictions on the use of plastic bags and plastic disposable containers starting today, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.

The EPA announced early this year the second round of its plan to phase out plastic bags. The second round requires that shopping malls, eateries and franchise convenience stores stop providing free plastic bags to customers. Operators were given a grace period of more than one month -- from the date of implementation till today -- to comply with the new measures.

EPA head Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said at the time that "we will regret it tomorrow if we don't do it today, " and that "Taiwan's environmental protection cannot be turned back" to demonstrate his determination to push for the phase-out for the sake of a better environment.

Today marks the first day of enforcing the new restrictions, but considering the limited number of personnel to carry out enforcement, the EPA will give operators another chance for compliance.

The EPA said that the if operators violate the restrictions after Feb. 16, they will first receive a warning. If operators are found to be still violating the restrictions when inspectors return -- two to four weeks later -- they will be fined NT$60,000.

Most eateries and breakfast shops in Taiwan have already complied with the new restrictions and are no longer providing free plastic bags or plastic disposable containers to customers.

Producers of plastics bag and plastic disposable container said they are disappointed with the policy, especially since their production equipment cannot be transformed for other uses and since the grace period is too short.

The first stage of phase-out program started last July when shops at schools, government agencies and military establishments no longer provided plastic bags or disposable containers.
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