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Currents · Climate · 2026-08-31

In 1993, Taiwan collected 70% of its trash while recycling virtually none

In 1993, Taiwan collected 70% of its trash while recycling virtually none. 33 years later, paid bags, musical trucks and sorting helped drive recycling to 55% nationwide. Taiwan’s transformation from a waste-management crisis into one of the world's most closely watched recycling success stories offers a powerful lesson about how public policy can change everyday behavior. In the early 1990s, the island faced overflowing garbage, inadequate collection and limited recycling infrastructure. Taiwans experience therefore challenges the idea that recycling depends mainly on individual environmental enthusiasm. People certainly need to participate, but participation becomes easier when governments create systems that are convenient, predictable and enforceable.

Why it matters. Taiwan's transformation from a severe waste-management crisis to a global recycling leader offers a proven civic model for modern urban sustainability.

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