Taiwan Unveils Draft Amendments to Two Major Waste Laws 
On April 9, 2026, the Executive Yuan of Taiwan approved draft amendments to the Resource Circulation Promotion Act and the Waste Disposal Act submitted by the Ministry of Environment. The Resource Circulation Promotion Act is a complete overhaul of the current Resource Recycling and Reuse Act.
Through these amendments, Taiwan’s waste management strategy is pivoting from a “disposal-centered” approach to a “Life Cycle Management” approach, aiming to establish a robust circular economy system.
The draft of the Resource Circulation Promotion Act draws heavily from the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), introducing mandatory green design requirements, reuse targets, and repair/recycling information disclosure for designated products and packaging. According to the Executive Yuan, these two bills will now be sent to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.
Objectives of the Reform
These amendments serve as the legal foundation for two major national strategies: “Taiwan’s 2050 Net-Zero Transition” and “Resource Circulation & Zero Waste.” The reform utilizes a “Carrot and Stick” approach:
- The Stick: The “Waste Disposal Act” amendment focuses on stricter penalties for illegal activities.
- The Carrot: The “Resource Circulation Promotion Act” promotes circular design and industrial support.
The goal is to solve escalating issues such as illegal dumping, resource depletion, and compliance with international green supply chain requirements.
Key Highlights: “Resource Circulation Promotion Act” Draft
The draft stipulates waste reduction measures across the entire product life cycle, focusing on Green Design, Source Reduction, and Sustainable Consumption. Note that the specific scope of “designated products” and detailed regulatory requirements will be established by the central competent authority through subsequent regulations.
| Field | Requirement | Primary Regulatory Content |
|---|---|---|
| Green Design | Product Green Design (Arts. 13-15) | Manufacturers and importers of designated products must follow Green Design Guidelines, submit documentation to the authority within deadlines, and obtain compliance certification.
※Potential guidelines include: single-material/recyclable material use, minimum recycled content, improved repairability/durability, and restrictions on hazardous substances. |
| Source Reduction | Reuse of Goods/Packaging (Art. 16) | Manufacturers, importers and sellers of designated products must submit “Reuse Plans” for products or packaging/containers to the authority for approval and report results periodically. |
| Product/Packaging Reduction (Art. 17) | Related operators of designated products must submit “Usage Reduction Plans” for products or packaging to the authority and report implementation results periodically. | |
| Transport/Sales Packaging Reduction (Art. 19) | Manufacturers and importers of designated products must comply with limits on packaging volume, number of layers, material types, and quantities for transport and sales packaging. | |
| Product Life Extension (Art. 20) | Manufacturers and importers of designated products must implement measures such as repair, leasing, extended warranties, buy-backs, or refills to extend product life and report results. | |
| Sustainable Consumption | Circulation Labels (Art. 21) | Products meeting recyclability, recycled content, or green design principles may apply for a “Circulation Label.” |
| Disclosure of Repair/Recycling Info (Art. 22) | Manufacturers and importers of designated products must disclose: material composition/recycled content percentage, packaging material/weight, repairability/durability/repair methods, and recycling/dismantling instructions. |
Support Measures
To encourage adoption, companies that voluntarily meet these requirements may receive priority in government procurement and eligibility for government subsidies.
Implementation
Regulations regarding Green Design and associated penalties will take effect two years after promulgation. All other content will take effect immediately upon promulgation.
Key Highlights: “Waste Disposal Act” Draft
The amendment includes three major changes:
- Expanded Scope of Responsible Entities (Arts. 15, 16):
- Inclusion of Industrial Waste: The term “General” is removed from the scope of “waste to be recycled,” effectively extending recycling obligations to industrial waste.
- Renewable Energy Equipment: Solar panels and wind turbine blades are now explicitly included as waste to be recycled.
- Enhanced Reuse Management (Art. 39): Strengthening management by adding specific requirements for industrial waste reuse methods and reuse operators.
- Stricter Penalties for Illegal Dumping (Arts. 46, 71): The threshold for punishment shifts from “causing environmental pollution” (consequence-based) to “acts likely to cause environmental pollution” (prevention-based). Fines for violations in protected ecological zones can be increased by up to 50%.
Implementation
Requirements for Enhanced Reuse Management (Art. 39) and related penalties will take effect two years after promulgation. All other content takes effect immediately.
Original Source (Traditional Chinese):
https://www.ey.gov.tw/File/2549926E8480F7F6?A=C
