TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s environment ministry said it will roll out incentives to reduce the number of disposable plastic bottles used in hotels starting in 2025.
The ministry’s Resource Circulation Administration Director Lai Ying-ying (賴瑩瑩) said at a press conference on Tuesday (July 30) that hotels will be able to apply for a NT$30,000 (US$914) subsidy if they can show they only supply plastic bottled water to half of their rooms or less, per CNA.
Lai said the payment will be limited to 110 establishments throughout Taiwan, out of a total of 3,321. The ministry will also provide subsidies of up to NT$5 million for the same number of establishments throughout the country to install water bottle refilling systems.
The incentives are part of the ministry’s restrictions on single use travel products announced last year, and will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2025.
The restrictions will prevent hotels from actively displaying liquid toiletries less than 180 millimeters in size, single-use slippers, and single-use plastic grooming products. Customers will still be able to access these products if they request them.
Accommodation providers will also be required to provide liquid toiletries in large bottles after the changes are implemented. Spas, swimming pools, and other facilities that do not have guest rooms will not be subject to the requirements.
Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) said because accommodation providers in Taiwan are not subject to carbon emissions fees, only some operators have taken the initiative to reduce their carbon footprint. However, he said in cases where this has been done, customers have been increasingly receptive to the changes.
