Wrap that in plastic? Not in Taiwan, unless you pay The island
has drastically reduced plastic waste. But activists say a cut
in fines for violations may harm progress. It's not often that
an Asian country beats out the West with progressive
environmental policy. Yet that's just what Taiwan has done, with
regulations that have dramatically reduced use of what many
consider a scourge - the plastic bag.Skip to next paragraph
Subscribe Today to the Monitor Single-use plastics, so
ubiquitous in modern life and so prevalent across Asia, have
become something of a novelty in this island nation since the
country's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)
implemented tough restrictions - namely, large fines against
businesses that give away plastic bags, utensils, and Styrofoam
and plastic food containers. The final phase of the three-stage
restrictions took effect in January 2003. Since then, EPA
officials said this month, use of plastic shopping bags has been
cut by 69 percent nationwide. Factoring in heavier