Mon, Jul 28, 2014 page13

• FEATURE: Noise pollution laws damaging laundromat business

  • By Helen Ku / Staff reporter
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  Government over-regulation has had the most negative impact on the businesses of laundromat store owners over the past two years, even before the cross-strait service trade agreement became a controversial issue

  Among other regulations, the government has recently imposed a rule that requires laundromats to close by 10pm nightly in a bid to reduce noise pollution.

  However, operators say it is yet another example of an “unreasonable policy” from the government.

  “The law has flaws. It demands laundromats close by 10pm, not based on the level of noise from the machines, but due to complaints from a few people,” said Lin Fu-shan (林富山), general manager of the nation’s largest laundromat chain store Asian Laundry Equipment Co Ltd (宏閩), in a recent interview with the Taipei Times.

  “It is an irresponsible government that implements unreasonable policies,” said Lin, who runs nearly 1,000 laundromats across the nation.

  Laundromats have become popular in Taiwan, especially in urban areas, over the past decade. For city dwellers who have no washing machines at home, the machines in nearby laundromats are just what they need, a cheap and convenient way to get their washing done.

  However, since last year, the government has received more than 710 complaints from the public about the noise generated by washing machines, prompting the governments of Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan County and Greater Tainan to restrict laundromats from operating later than 10pm, in accordance with the Noise Control Act (噪音管制法) that was revised in 2008.

  If store owners are found to be in violation of the law, they receive a NT$3,000 (US$100) fine from city environmental protection authorities.

  So far, the governments of Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan County have issued more than 27 fines to laundromat operators.

  Lin, who was fined by the Taipei City Government earlier this year, said his monthly revenue from each store decreased by 33 to 50 percent — between NT$100,000 and NT$150,000 a month after being forced to shorten business hours.

  While the government’s new rules are aimed at enhancing the quality of life, not every resident of metropolitan areas appreciates the move, with many claiming the policy caused them inconvenience.

  “Customers told me they need to do laundry at 10pm or later as they worked during the daytime,” said the owner of a laundromat chain store Chaorui Machinery Engineering Ltd (超瑞) in Taipei’s Daan District (大安).

  “I posted a note on the wall of my laundromat [stating] that customers should finish doing their laundry by 10pm, but received a lot of criticism. So, I’m still operating 24 hours-a-day,” said the person surnamed Chen (陳).

  Chen said he invested NT$2 million in his only laundromat store in 2012 and originally expected to start generating return in six years.

  Now, because of the new rules, Chen said it might take more than eight years for his investment to start generating a return.

  It is “totally unfair” as the machines installed at the store are the latest models in the market and do not create much noise, Chen said. “The government is reckless. The rules are unnecessary.”

  Lu Chin-mu (呂金木), 60, a retiree who goes to a laundromat in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水) on a weekly basis, said the government’s new policy is unfavorable to the majority of society, including himself.

  “Sometimes it is difficult to find a washing machine that is not occupied for heavy-duty laundry, especially over the weekend or on holidays,” Lu said. “The rules make me worry about whether I should do laundry earlier than 10pm. They have forced me to change my daily schedule.”

  As the cost of living rises, an increasing number of the public opt to use coin-operated washing machines and dryers instead of buying their own machines.

  Another reason for the growing popularity of laundromats is that many people have little space to wash or dry clothes, especially in wintertime.

  “We should let the market stay accessible to everyone, instead of placing more restrictions on it,” Lu said.
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