A ban on tableware made from polylactide (PLA) — a plant-based bioplastic — at eateries, retail stores and publicly run institutions is to come into effect on Aug. 1, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced on Thursday.
Under the new regulations, offenders would be subject to fines of NT$1,200 to NT$6,000 (US$38.54 to US$192.71) under the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物處理法), the EPA said.
Taiwan first banned plastic tableware at eight venues — public agencies, public and private schools, department stores and shopping centers, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, fast food chains and restaurants — in 2002.
Photo: Taipei Times
The regulations were revised in 2006 to prohibit the distribution of single-use tableware containing materials other than plastics to people dining at schools and public agencies.
Originally, PLA tableware was not included as it was thought to be more biodegradable than other similar materials.
However, it was found later that PLA would only disintegrate quickly under specific conditions, the EPA said.
Furthermore, no suitable facilities exist in the nation to recycle PLA, which has also been confused for polystyrene, leading to environmental harm, it added.
In 2019, regulations were further revised to ban plastic straws (not made of PLA) at public agencies, school cafeterias, department stores and shopping centers, and fast-food chains.
It also prohibited the distribution of single-use tableware made of any material for on-site dining at the eight mentioned venues.
The draft regulations were unveiled on Feb. 1 and are to take effect on Aug. 1 after a six-month public review period, the EPA said.
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