TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of the Environment (MOEVN) said 40 markets across Taiwan, including night markets and traditional daytime markets will participate in a July pilot program to reduce plastic bag usage.
Stalls in these designated markets can no longer distribute free plastic bags. Those who want plastic bags will need to buy them for NT$1 (US$0.03). In the Taipei area, Ningxia Night Market will participate in the pilot.
The Taiwan government began reducing plastic bag usage beginning in 2002, identifying seven different businesses, such as government agencies, department stores, and shopping malls prohibited from providing free plastic bags. In 2018, seven new business categories were added, including drug stores and drink shops, per CNA.
According to MOEVN data, 20 years of implementing such policies has been effective, as the number of plastic shopping bags has dropped from 20 billion per year to about 10 billion in 2022, a 50% reduction.
However, plastic bag usage at night markets and traditional markets accounts for more than 50% of plastic bag usage and is still not included in the plastic bag reduction program. Currently, the government is planning a voluntary pilot program to reduce plastic bag usage in these markets, followed by tightened regulations.
According to Lee Yi-hua (李宜樺) of the MOEVN Resource Circulation Administration, each municipality has been asked to propose at least one market within its jurisdiction to join the pilot. The goal of the program is to reduce plastic waste by 20% by 2026.
Reaction from stalls located within the Ningxia Night Market has been mixed. Those in favor of the pilot program note customers often bring their own reusable bags, and already ask if they need to purchase plastic bags. Other stall owners are not so optimistic, criticizing the pilot program as troublesome and ineffective.
Many believe that eliminating free plastic bags at traditional markets that sell fresh produce along with meat and seafood is even more difficult. Vendors at these markets use multiple plastic bags to separate individual food items and may find it troublesome and embarrassing to ask customers to pay extra for their plastic bags.
