TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Environment announced April 17 that the island's general waste recycling rate reached 60% in 2025. The figure places Taiwan ahead of many countries, including the United States, where the national recycling rate stands at around 32%, according to official data.
Taiwan's waste collection system requires residents to bring trash directly to designated collection points rather than leaving it on the street. Garbage trucks travel through neighborhoods on fixed schedules, often playing music to alert residents to their arrival. Residents are required to sort and dispose of waste in person, and a core principle remains consistent nationwide: garbage cannot touch the ground.
Taiwan's approach contrasts with systems in other major cities. In New York City, recycling rates remain around 20%. Tokyo enforces detailed sorting rules but relies heavily on incineration due to limited landfill space. In Singapore, most waste is processed through waste-to-energy plants, while household recycling rates reached 11% in 2024.
Within Taiwan, policies vary by region. Taipei and New Taipei City operate a "pay-as-you-throw" system, requiring residents to purchase official garbage bags. In other cities, including Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, waste collection fees are incorporated into utility bills. The system is supported by Taiwan's "Four-in-One" recycling program, which integrates households, local governments, private recyclers and a central recycling fund.