Disposing of all leftovers on a plate in the same bin became impossible at certain fast-food restaurants, where trash bins have been separated into different categories in accordance with a new environmental policy on waste recycling that came into force yesterday.
Yesterday morning, Chang Juu-en (張祖恩), head of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), inspected three fast-food restaurants in Hsimenting.
Since yesterday, the compulsory recycling program has been applied to about 600 fast-food restaurants belonging to seven major chains nationwide. Instead of the usual one overflowing trash can, consumers are encouraged to dispose of their waste in four different bins. Leftovers are separated into four categories: leftovers, recyclable materials, regular waste and liquid waste.
Mixing waste from different categories will result in the restaurant being fined between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000.
"Garbage should be regarded as reusable resources which were in the wrong places," Chang said.
A trial program was carried out on July 1 last year at fast-food restaurants. The latest research shows that such restaurants produce about 1,450 tonnes of waste monthly. Reusable materials account for 15 percent of the waste, while food leftovers account for 5 percent.
The EPA estimates that each restaurant can make an average yearly profit of NT$100,000 by selling reusable materials every month. In addition, due to significant waste reduction, monthly waste-handling costs can be reduced to NT$600,000 from NT$800,000.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security