Unfortunately, few people gave any thought to recycling in Taiwan back then, so all used PET bottles were considered nonsalvagable trash, and this had a serious impact on the environment.
若採掩埋方式，無法自然分解的 PET 乃「萬年不壞之身」，會對環境造成嚴重衝擊，例如當時曾出現廢寶特瓶阻塞排水系統、導致淹水而引發民怨，寶特瓶也成為讓人又愛又恨的社會議題。