STANDARDS: Even if plastic accounts for less than 10% of a straw’s weight, it would be banned, as paper straws have been developed that do not require a plastic coating
Taipei Times
Date: May 02, 2019
By: Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporter
A ban on giving single-use plastic straws in about 8,000 venues is to take effect from July,
A woman holds up straws made from various materials at the Environmental Protection Administration in Taipei yesterday.Photo: Liu Li-jen, Taipei Times
and is expected to reduce the number of plastic straws used by 100 million per year, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.
After announcing a draft for the ban on June 8 last year, the agency held several public hearings to gather opinions and revised some of its content.
Starting from July, about 8,000 venues ranging from government agencies, public and private schools, department stores, shopping malls and fast-food chains would be prohibited from offering customers eating at the venues single-use plastic straws, EPA Deputy Minister Shen Chih-hsiu (沈志修) said.
Those purchasing takeaways would not be affected for the moment, he said, adding that the agency would evaluate how to limit the use of plastic straws in take-out orders in a year’s time. [FULL STORY]