Starting on May 1, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) will require chain stores to submit plans explaining how they are encouraging customers to provide their own cups when they buy beverages, in a bid to reduce the use of disposable cups.
Stores that do not comply will face a fine of up to NT$300,000, Department of Waste Management deputy director Lai Ying-ying (賴瑩瑩) said.
She added that the measure will initially target fast food chains, convenience stores, supermarkets and beverage shops.
“Stores that have more than two outlets will have to adopt the new measure. We hope this will encourage beverage stores that have only one outlet and night market beverage vendors to follow suit,” Lai said.
It is estimated that reducing usage by 30 percent will cut the number of disposable cups used each year by 450 million, she added.
“Beverage chain stores, con--venience stores and fast food outlets use about 1.5 billion cups every year,” an EPA official said. “We have to cut the consumption at its root in view of the large consumption of natural resources.”
According to an EPA survey, 12,000 stores from 41 chains have already joined the campaign to provide their customers with discounts or a larger drink if they bring in their own cup.
For example, McDonald’s said that this month it started giving points to customers who provide their own cups. Those who -collect five points get a small drink for free.
Starbucks offers customers a NT$10 discount if they bring their own cup. Brown Coffee offers a NT$5 discount, and 85oC offers a NT$3 discount.
Even stores that fail to submit a cup-use reduction plan by May 1 should still provide incentives for customers to return their used cups for recycling, the EPA said.
When customers bring two empty cups to any of the outlets, they should be given NT$1 as a reward, the EPA said.
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