January 18, 2025 – Taiwan Leads Global Plastic Recycling Efforts with Ambitious Goals and Innovative Policies
Taiwan stands out in the global plastic recycling sector, boasting one of the highest plastic recycling rates worldwide. In 2019, the island’s plastic recycling rate hit an impressive 51%, with plastic containers achieving a remarkable recycling rate of 97% and the overall recycling rate reaching 35%. To further elevate its plastic recycling and regeneration capabilities, Taiwan has set ambitious targets: reducing the use of single-use plastic packaging by 5% in 2030 compared to 2023 levels, and aiming to increase the recycled content in plastic packaging and containers to 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
To facilitate these objectives, Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has recently announced a significant initiative: offering fee incentives for plastic containers that utilize recycled materials or adhere to green ecological design standards in terms of recycling and disposal costs. This policy aims to leverage economic incentives to encourage plastic container manufacturers and importers to adopt eco-friendly materials and designs more actively, thereby fostering the sustained development of the plastic recycling and regeneration industry.
According to Color Masterbatch Industry Network, Taiwan’s policy is grounded in Article 16 of the Waste Disposal Act. This regulation mandates plastic container manufacturers and importers to pay corresponding fees based on product type, weight, and recyclability. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, first implemented in the plastic container sector in 2001, has undergone continuous revisions and enhancements to better encourage and support sustainable practices. Mainland China may draw lessons from Taiwan’s experience to propel its plastic recycling and regeneration industry into a new stage of development.