Taipei City has banned the use of single-use plastic cups across the city’s over 2000 bubble tea and coffee shops starting on December 1, as reported by Straits Times on December 10. The ban, issued by Taipei City’s Department of Environmental Protection, also applies to biodegradable plastic PLA cups that claim to be environmentally friendly. The ban is estimated to reduce 76m plastic cups and 912 metric tons of plastic waste each year. In addition, all beverage stores in Taiwan, including chain and non-chain beverage shops, will be required to completely ban the use of plastic cups before 2023. Beverage shops that fail to comply with the plastic restriction order will be fined an amount between NTD1,200 (USD39.1) to NTD6,000 (USD195.6). 

Earlier this year, beverage shops in Taiwan encouraged customers to bring their personal reusable cups to enjoy a discount of at least NTD5 (USD0.17). Taipei’s restriction on plastic cup use marks a step further in Taiwan’s effort to reduce waste and limit pollution. The Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) also plans to set up a new requirement for convenience stores to provide reusable cups for rent. Customers can rent reusable cups for free at one store and return them at another store. In addition, the Taiwan EPA will also ban the use of plastic materials in packaging from July 2023.

Sources:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taipei-bans-bubble-tea-and-coffee-shops-from-using-disposable-plastic-cups

https://www.businesstoday.com.tw/article/category/183030/post/202211230059/

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/tw/fashion/sustainabledevelopment/g41717427/reduce-plastic/

https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202209290026