How to Check the Garbage Truck Schedule? A Simple Guide for Kaohsiung City

(FWA 2026/10/12) For any expat living in Taiwan, knowing the garbage truck schedule and the city’s waste disposal rules is essential for daily life. This comprehensive guide covers everything from basic sorting rules and recycling categories, to navigating Kaohsiung’s real-time tracking app and scheduling oversized garbage disposal with your local cleaning squad.

I. General Garbage Collection Rules

Kaohsiung enforces a strict “Garbage Off the Ground” (垃圾不落地) and 3-in-1 recycling policy.

• Mandatory Sorting: You must separate your waste into three categories: General Waste (一般垃圾), Recyclables (資源垃圾), and Food Waste (廚餘).

• Fixed-Point & Fixed-Time: Garbage truck collection operates on a fixed-time and fixed-point basis. Wait at the designated spot for the vehicle to arrive.

• Do Not Chase the Truck: Chasing the truck to throw trash is strictly prohibited as it endangers cleaning staff, risks traffic accidents from slipping, and litters the streets.

• Fines: Failing to sort your trash properly or illegally dumping waste will result in fines ranging from NT$1,200 to NT$6,000 under the Waste Disposal Act.

II. Simple Guide for Kaohsiung Garbage Truck Tracking System

If you are unsure when the truck will arrive, use the official Kaohsiung City tracking system.

• Step 1: Open the “Kaohsiung City Garbage Truck Convenience Inquiry System Platform” Website (https://kepbgps.kcg.gov.tw/) or download the APP (Available on iOS and Android).

• Step 2: Allow the website to access your location information.

• Step 3: Alternatively, you can click on “manual positioning” (手動定位).

• Step 4: After positioning, your location will be displayed as a little person icon, showing nearby collection points (blue) and the scheduled garbage truck collection times. In the lower right corner, you can adjust the display range.

• Step 5: Clicking on the collection point icon will display detailed information about the collection point, including License Plate, Address (Full Route), Recycling Day, Scheduled Time, and Estimated Time (Real-time updates).

• Step 6: Click on “Vehicle Location” (車輛位置). If there is currently no garbage truck in transit, a warning will pop up: “Currently not during collection hours”.

• Step 7: If the garbage truck is currently in transit, after clicking on the vehicle location, it will display the garbage truck’s current location (green), License Plate, Update Time, and Collection Route (Morning / Afternoon / Evening).

• Step 8: Click on “Full Route” (全路線): This will display the entire garbage collection route of the garbage truck, in addition to that specific collection point.

III. Food Waste Categories (Raw vs. Cooked)

Food waste must have all water drained and foreign objects (like plastic bags, toothpicks, and disposable chopsticks) removed before recycling. Kaohsiung separates food waste into two types:

• Raw Food Waste (Uncooked): Animal bones and shells (fish, poultry, crab, oyster), fruit peels and pits, coffee and tea grounds, and gardening waste (leaves and plant stems, excluding thick branches and trunks).

• Cooked Food Waste (Cooked/Processed): Leftovers, rice and noodles, bean products, meat, eggs, snacks, and seasonings. Powdered foods (like milk powder or flour) must be mixed with water before disposal.

• Exceptions: Zongzi leaves (粽葉) and the outer packaging of tea bags are considered General Waste and should go directly into the garbage truck.

IV. Recycling & Dangerous Items

To protect the environment and cleaning crews, separate recyclables and handle dangerous items with care:

• General Recyclables: Paper, containers (plastic, glass, metal), dry batteries, IT/appliances, old clothes, and fluorescent tubes. Please rinse containers and dismantle composite items (e.g., separate the fabric and metal of an umbrella, or the plastic and metal of a helmet).

• High-Pressure Cans: Hair spray, insecticides, and gas canisters must be completely emptied before handing them to the recycling truck staff.

• Batteries & Electronics: Remove batteries (including lithium, button-cell, and power banks) from toys, electronics, and 3C appliances. Hand them separately to the recycling truck or convenience stores. Never throw batteries or gas cans into the garbage truck to prevent explosions and vehicle fires.

• Incense & Joss Paper: Ensure all ashes are thoroughly extinguished with water before bagging them as general waste.

V. Oversized Furniture and Appliances (Scheduled Collection)

Large items like sofas, bed frames, tables, and cabinets cannot be thrown into the regular truck.

• Scheduling: Call your local district cleaning squad (清潔隊) to arrange a specific pickup time and location. Do not dump them on the street randomly.

• Construction Waste: Materials like ceramic toilets, tiles, and wooden boards from home renovations are classified as industrial waste. The cleaning squad does not accept these; you must hire a private contractor.

VI. Kaohsiung District Cleaning Squad (清潔隊) Contact Information