A plan to reduce marine debris and plastic waste in Taiwan was unveiled Feb. 13 by the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ocean conservation and achieving its goal of minimizing the availability of plastic cups, shopping bags, straws and tableware by 2030.
Focusing on enhanced social collaboration and participation, research, source reduction, and waste prevention and removal, the plan comprises 34 new activities. These include bolstering connections with regional partners, engaging up to 5,000 ships to trawl the seas for trash and raising public awareness of related environmental issues via education campaigns and outreach activities.
In addition, a series of collaborative marine debris management programs will be initiated by the EPA and local nongovernmental organizations and nonprofits like Taipei City-headquartered Taiwan Environmental Information Association.
EPA Minister Lee Ying-yuan said protecting the ocean necessitates cooperation among all segments of society. The plan is a strong step forward in this regard and a milestone in tailoring responsive policies through input from the public and private sectors, he added.
According to Lee, rubbish-strewn oceans are a pressing global issue and Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, is committed to playing its part in rectifying the situation. As identified in the plan, the best way of addressing this problem is slashing the number of debris sources, he said.
This approach is reflected in the EPA’s aggressive 12-year timetable for minimizing the availability of single-use plastics. By 2020, fewer stores will provide free bags and the use of restaurant-provided cups, straws and tableware is to be discouraged; by 2025, such plastics can only be obtained through purchase. (CPY-E)
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