Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/05
By: Huang Chiao-wen and S.C. Chang

Taipei, April 5 (CNA) An environmental technology company is testing two garbage collection machines in which users can pay or get a refund with EasyCards or iPasses.

Liu Han-yu (劉涵宇), deputy general manager of Hao Yang Environmental Technology Co., said users can swipe an EasyCard or iPass to open the machine, throw in the garbage and then push the confirm button within 20 seconds. The machine will then show the weight and amount of money deducted.

In another machine, users can put in 8 tin cans to get a NT$1 refund on their EasyCards or iPasses. This is part of a government policy to encourage people to recycle.

Liu said the garbage collection machine, which is patented, has cooling, compressing and deodorizing functions. Citizens would no longer have to buy garbage bags to store their household waste.

He said his company plans to launch a pilot project in five locations in Taipei’s Xinyi District in August. If successful, the garbage collection machines will be promoted in other areas where residents will no longer have to hurry back home from work to wait for garbage trucks.      [FULL  STORY]