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EPA gets mixed reviews on policy implementation

"I chose to bring my own chopsticks mainly for health reasons," says Julie Ma (馬瑗玲), one of the rare diners around the nation who habitually carries her own utensils.

"I am also doing this to protect the environment," she said.

Based on a survey from the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), 36.3 percent of interviewees reported they prepare their own utensils when they eat out, while 25.1 percent said they sometimes or rarely do so, and 36.5 percent said they never bring their own utensils.

The administration has used the figure to gauge the degree to which their policy has been implemented.

On a five point scale where five indicates full implementation, the policy encouraging the use of self-prepared utensils only scored 3.1.

The report came after the administration started banning the use of disposable utensils in government agency cafeterias in July last year. Last September, the administration asked school cafeterias to stop giving out disposable utensils for dine-in customers.

Meanwhile, the survey found that other policies, such as separating recyclables, carrying used plastic bags or shopping bags and water conservation have all achieved a score over 4.

The EPA survey was conducted between April 18 and May 8. A total of 4,734 valid samples were collected. They were evaluated at a 95 percent confidence level, with a margin of error of 1.42 percent.

As well as investigating the level of implementation for each policy, the survey also asked interviewees about their perceptions on issues related to air and water quality, noise and environmental hygiene.

Close to 60 percent of the surveyed population reported that they have been affected by pollution coming from the exhaust of motor vehicles in the past year.

Forty nine percent of the interviewees said they have been troubled by noise mainly from traffic as well as from neighbors living nearby.

Close to 70 percent said that they drink either filtered or bottled water, particularly respondents from southern Taiwan.
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