Taipei, Dec. 22 (CNA) Taipei is rolling out a new ban at the beginning of next year that forbids the sale of plastic shopping bags at hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
Lu Shih-chang, the deputy commissioner of Taipei's Department of Environmental Protection, announced the city's plan at a press conference on Friday to prohibit the three types of stores from distributing free plastic shopping bags or selling plastic bags.
Hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores will be allowed, however, to sell "dual-purpose" bags that function both as a shopping bag and a trash bag, Lu said.
The bags will come in three different sizes -- a 3-liter bag will cost NT$1, a 6-liter bag will cost NT$2, and a 14-liter bag will cost NT$5 -- and city residents will be allowed to use them when throwing out their garbage.
Taipei currently requires residents to store and throw out their garbage in certified trash bags that have to be purchased, a policy that was also aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags.
Lu reiterated the need to cut down on the use of plastic, citing United Nations data forecasting that the world's oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050 unless people stop using single-use plastic items.
Taiwan uses 18 billion plastic bags each year, or an average of about 782 bags per person, he said.
The newly announced ban on the sale of plastic bags comes in addition to an expanded ban on free plastic bags at 14 types of businesses also set to take effect on Jan. 1.
The 14 places of business are government agencies, private schools, department stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, pharmacies, medical equipment stores, book and stationery stores, laundries, beverage stores, bakeries, and computer, consumer electronics and communications product retailers.
Those found to be violating the ban will first be issued a warning and then be fined between NT$1,200 (US$39) and NT$6,000 for subsequent violations.
