TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — The Taoyuan City Council on Tuesday (Dec. 12) passed the fiscal year 2024 budget but slashed NT＄117 million earmarked for the promotion and production of designated garbage bags.
This budget cut jeopardizes the original pay-as-you-throw garbage fee system schedule, which was set to commence in July 2025, said Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang.
The city's Department of Environmental Protection had allocated the funds for awareness campaigns and the manufacturing of the requisite garbage bags.
City council members have argued for a more deliberate approach to policy implementation, taking into consideration the residents' feedback to determine the most appropriate time to roll out the initiative.
In response to the budget cut, Chang stated that the timeline for enforcing the pay-as-you-throw policy will be extended, and acknowledged the absence of a fixed schedule moving forward.