Since January 2011, this project was carried out to promote disposable products source minimization efforts, in line with the “Zero Waste” policy established by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). The project had collaborated with two environmental protection organizations, focusing on disposable products reduction through a total of 20 activities which involved disposable tableware, the single-use take-out cup and more. Promoting disposable tableware reduction included at 21 highway rest stops and 24 theme parks. In 4 January 2011, the EPA announced “The Enforcement of Source Reduction and Recycling Incentives for Single-Use Take-Out Cup” ordinance, effective on 1 May 2011 affecting convenient stores, fast-food restaurants and soft-drink stores. There are over 17 thousand stores providing discounts for customers with their own cups. We followed up with the outcomes and the results showed an achievement of a reduction of 180 thousand single-use take-out cups from these stores per day. In terms of plastic management enforcement policy, the project completed an environmental impact report on PVC and PVDC cling-film including production, waste management, health risk and economic, and proposed relative management schemes based on a research in 2010 after holding a meeting with relevant organizations focusing on PVC and PVDC films management. Regarding plastic trays and boxes minimization, the amount of reduction achieved was 885 tons with an overall reduction rate of 32.64% during 2010, in which includes 84%, 69% and 33% reduction rate for egg, bakery and vegetables/fruits consecutively. Besides, for the reduction programs proposed by the retailers for 2011, 42% of the stores had achieved 40% reduction rate, and over 37% of the stores had achieved 45% reduction rate. Based on our evaluation, we recommend to achieve a reduction rate of 40% for 2012, and from 2013 onwards, the use of plastic trays and boxes to be restricted in three main categories of commodities, namely eggs, bakery and vegetables/fruits, with a goal of 80% reduction rate and to simplify the reduction proposal and result submission process.

Disposable Products;Source Reduction;Disposable Tableware