Taiwan plan to raise the recycling levy for PET plastic packaging

In May, 2024, the Resource Circulation Administration of the Ministry of the Environment of Taiwan held an industry meeting to discuss the draft of “Recycling levy and recycling subsidy rates of plastic packaging”. During the meeting, the Resource Circulation Administration clarified the scope of operators responsible for recycling plastic portion trays and plastic blisters, the timeline for responsible operators to make the registration, report the use or import volume, and pay the recycling levy, as well as the amended recycling levy rates and the method of calculating the recycling levy.

Scope of responsible operators

1. Manufacturers and importers of plastic portion trays and plastic blisters.
2. Importers of the following 8 categories of goods that contain plastic portion trays and plastic blisters.

• Articles announced to be recycled
• Tableware, kitchenware
• Toys, stationery
• Hardware, accessories, home decor
• Auto parts
• Medical equipment
• Small electrical and electronic equipment, communication devices
• Cleaning supplies, equipment, skin care and cosmetic equipment

Recycling levy Calculation

Amended recycling levy rate

The amended recycling levy rate table is as follows. The packaging recycling rates of PET plastic will be raised from the current NT$9.35/kg to NT$15.33/kg.

※1 NT$ is about 4.8 JPY at the May 2024 exchange rate.

Calculation formula

Recycling levy amount = Weight of imported product×Proportion of each plastic packaging in the product weight × Recycling levy rate for each plastic packaging material

Action timeline for responsible operators

1. Registration as responsible operators

• The existing responsible operators shall complete the application for registration as responsible operators by June 30, 2025.
• Operators who become responsible operators after the effective date (May 1, 2025) of the Notice shall apply for the registration within two months from the date of manufacturing or importing the regulated articles.

1. Reporting of sales and imports and paying for recycling levy
   Responsible operators shall complete the reporting of sales and import volumes of May to June of 2025, and the payment of the recycling levy by July 30, 2025.