(FWA 2026/6/3)Welcome to Taipei! For anyone newly arrived in the city, the waste disposal rules might seem a bit confusing at first, but the system is actually very eco-friendly and convenient. A Quick Guide to Garbage Bags in Taipei is here to help you quickly settle in by explaining the “Per-Bag Trash Collection Fee” system (pay-as-you-throw). Simply put: you pay for the amount of garbage you produce. Therefore, regular household garbage cannot be disposed of in standard plastic bags; you must use the government-mandated “Designated Garbage Bags” to hand over to the garbage trucks.
Below is a summary of how to purchase and use designated garbage bags and eco-friendly dual-purpose bags!
Top Recommendation: Eco-Friendly Dual-Purpose Bag
For those who have just arrived in Taipei, haven’t figured out their garbage volume yet, or don’t want to buy a large pack of designated garbage bags at once, the “Eco-Friendly Dual-Purpose Bag” is definitely the best choice!
This policy features a “two-bags-in-one” mechanism designed to reduce plastic waste. When you forget to bring your reusable bag to a convenience store or supermarket, you can buy this bag to carry your groceries. Once you get home, it can be directly used as a “Designated Garbage Bag” to legally throw away your trash!
Where to buy: Chain convenience stores across the city (such as 7-11, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart), supermarkets, and hypermarkets.
Purchase rules: To align with actual shopping needs, dual-purpose bags cannot be purchased in whole packs, nor can they be bought separately without making a purchase (you must buy goods to buy the bag).
Sizes and prices:
Small bag: NT$1
Medium bag: NT$2
Large bag: NT$5
Purchasing at Convenience Stores and Payment Methods
If you need to buy a whole pack of regular Designated Garbage Bags (ranging from 3 liters to 120 liters), convenience stores remain the most convenient channel.
Flexible payments: Buying designated garbage bags falls under the “collection and payment” service of convenience stores. Besides cash, you can easily use an EasyCard or other electronic payment methods to check out.
Return and exchange mechanism: If you accidentally buy the wrong size (provided the whole pack is unopened and all inner bags are intact), simply bring the original purchase receipt back to the original store to process a return and repurchase.
Guidelines for Proper Garbage Bag Usage
After purchasing your Designated Garbage Bag or Eco-Friendly Dual-Purpose Bag, please follow these principles to avoid having your trash rejected or getting fined:
Note the capacity limit: There is a “maximum capacity indicator line” printed on the bag. Please keep the garbage below this line; the top 30% of space is reserved so you have enough room to properly tie and seal the bag.
Tie securely: Use the ears of the bag to tie a secure knot, or use string or tape to seal it. Do not over-squeeze the garbage bag to prevent it from tearing and leaking.
No exposed inner bags: The “outermost layer” of the garbage handed over to the garbage truck must be the designated garbage bag. You can use other small plastic bags inside, but everything must eventually fit into the designated bag without any other containers exposed.
Mutual acceptance in Taipei and New Taipei: Taipei City and New Taipei City share a living circle, so the designated garbage bags (including eco-friendly dual-purpose bags) of both cities are mutually accepted. You can use New Taipei City bags for Taipei City garbage trucks and vice versa.
Money-Saving Tips for Newcomers
Designated garbage bags are strictly meant for “general non-recyclable waste.” In Taipei, recyclables (such as paper, plastic bottles, glass, metal) and food waste do not require designated garbage bags!
By properly sorting your recyclables and food waste, you can significantly reduce the volume of your general waste, meaning you won’t have to buy as many designated garbage bags. This protects both the environment and your wallet!
