Kaohsiung to Pilot Pay-As-You-Throw Garbage Fee System in 12 Districts

A Step Towards Sustainable Waste Management in Taiwan's Second-Largest City

Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, is taking a significant step towards enhanced waste management with the planned pilot implementation of a pay-as-you-throw garbage fee system in 12 districts. This initiative, responding to calls for improved waste reduction strategies, mirrors successful programs in cities like Taipei and aims to curtail excessive waste generation and boost recycling rates.

Council members have highlighted the lack of a citywide pay-as-you-throw system as a contributing factor to difficulties in controlling overall waste volume, hindering effective resource recovery, and increasing waste disposal costs. The proposed solution involves the introduction of specific garbage bags, similar to practices in Taipei, alongside complementary support mechanisms designed to motivate waste reduction among residents.

Responding to concerns, Environment Protection Bureau Director, 張瑞琿 (Zhang Ruihui), stated that the city has achieved a commendable recycling rate of 57.68%, a figure that has been steadily rising year-on-year. Building on successful demonstration projects conducted in three administrative districts utilizing convenience stores, the program is set to expand significantly this year, encompassing 12 districts and 13 locations. This pilot program is expected to provide valuable insights and data to refine the system before considering citywide implementation.