Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday announced a plan to ban the use of disposable tableware at City Hall, as well as city-affiliated schools and agencies.
Ko said the city would “in principle” stop providing bottled water, pre-cupped drinking water, styrofoam bowls and paper lunchboxes at City Hall, government agencies and public schools, while assuming responsibility for installing an adequate number of water dispensers.
Ko said the policy was a directive, but that he would allow for flexibility and compromise in its implementation.
Photo: CNA
“We will come up with an alternative policy if there are special circumstances, such as someone demanding a paper lunchbox,” the mayor said.
The new policy was inspired by Ko’s trip to South Korea, which he said uses standardized chopsticks. That had him wondering whether it would be possible to do the same in Taipei, with standardized chopsticks, bowls and plates.
Standardizaiton would make it easier to design dishwashing machines for night markets, he said.
Ko said the city would include bans on providing disposable utensils when it signs new leasing contracts for restaurants and convenience stores in City Hall’s basement.
The new requirements are to take effect in April after the expiration of current contracts.
Restrictions for schools and other city buildings are to take effect next month when the new academic year starts, he said.
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