The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday proposed new regulations to curb imports of waste plastic and paper, as the amount has soared since China implemented a ban on such imports in January.
The Chinese State Council in July last year announced a ban on imports of 24 types of solid waste, including plastics and textiles, unsorted paper and mining slag. The rules came into force at the beginning of this year.
The ban “will send shockwaves around the world,” Greenpeace East Asia said in December last year, adding that in 2012, up to 56 percent of global exported plastic waste went to China.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan has felt the effects of the ban, as countries including Japan, the US, the UK, Philippines, Mexico and Germany began exporting waste to Taiwan, EPA Department of Waste Management Director-General Lai Ying-ying (賴瑩瑩) told a news conference in Taipei.
The amount of imported waste plastics over the first six months was about 2.5 times more than in the same period last year, while the amount of imported waste paper — despite not increasing greatly — exceeded 150,000 tonnes in March, Lai said.
Domestic firms do not need to apply for government approval to import waste plastics and paper, because they can be used as industrial materials, but with the increasing volumes, the quality has degraded, while prices for domestic recycled waste have plunged, she said.
To protect the nation’s economy and environment, the EPA proposed amendments to the Regulations Governing Business Wastes Used as Industrial Materials (屬產業用料需求之事業廢棄物), which would restrict imports and regulate importers.
Local firms can only import waste plastics that originate from their own overseas production processes and waste paper that is non-bleached kraft paper, corrugated paper or cardboard, the agency said, adding that nothing should be mixed with other waste.
Only firms that have a license are allowed to import waste for industrial use, it said.
Among the proposed changes are rules to push firms to purchase domestic wastes first and to ensure that imported waste is of an acceptable quality, EPA Deputy Minister Chang Tzi-chin (張子敬) said.
The announcement comes with a 60-day notification period, the agency said, adding that it would hold hearings to gather opinions.
The new regulations should come into effect in October at the earliest, it said.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS