TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部), the government agency responsible for environmental protection and sustainability policies, admitted Tuesday (July 1) that its 10-year campaign to persuade citizens to flush toilet paper rather than dispose of it in waste bins has failed to gain significant traction among the public. Recent data reveals a concerning trend: more than 60 percent of Taiwan's population continues to discard used toilet paper in trash receptacles despite a decade of public education efforts, highlighting the deeply entrenched cultural habits that have proven resistant to change.
The ministry's comprehensive tracking surveys reveal a worrying upward trajectory in the practice, rather than the decline officials had hoped for through their educational campaigns. Government data shows that 55.1 percent of Taiwanese residents preferred disposing of toilet paper in trash bins in 2022, with this figure climbing to 59.9 percent in 2023 before reaching 62.1 percent in the most recent 2024 survey. Environmental officials expressed particular concern about this consistent year-over-year increase, which suggests not only resistance to change but potentially a growing entrenchment of disposal habits contrary to the government's sanitation recommendations.
Yen Hsu-ming (顏旭明), director-general of the Environmental Management Administration (環境管理署), a key division within the ministry, identified public misconceptions about plumbing infrastructure as the primary barrier to behavior change. Yen explained that widespread fears of toilet blockages stem from past experiences, but emphasized that properly designed sewage systems can easily process toilet paper. The official pointed to the standard 4-inch (about 10 centimeters) diameter of Taiwan's toilet pipes — a specification unchanged since the Japanese colonial period that ended in 1945 — as sufficient for handling toilet paper without complications. According to Yen, actual blockages typically result from improper items being flushed or inadequate maintenance in aging buildings.
The environmental official emphasized public health concerns as a crucial motivation for changing disposal practices, urging citizens to consider scientific evidence regarding hygiene and sanitation. Yen specifically highlighted the risk of bacterial infections associated with keeping soiled paper products in open waste containers and the aesthetic issues created by visible waste in restrooms. Looking forward, ministry representatives outlined plans to reinvigorate their educational campaign with more targeted messaging and enhanced outreach programs. Officials acknowledged the need for a more effective approach to overcome deeply ingrained cultural habits that have proven remarkably resistant to a decade of previous government efforts. ◼