Misthrowing Garbage Can Cost Up to NT$100,000! 10 Most Common Recycling Mistakes by Residents

Throwing away garbage incorrectly doesn’t just result in rejection by sanitation crews—it could also lead directly to a fine. Items like paper cups, receipts, Styrofoam, broken glass, and power banks may appear recyclable, but they each have specific sorting and disposal requirements. Mixing them into general waste, failing to package them properly, or disposing of them at the wrong time or location may violate regulations.

Importantly, the Waste Disposal Act was revised and promulgated on July 15, 2026. Individuals who fail to sort and dispose of waste according to regulations now face higher fines. How much could you be fined for incorrect disposal? Which items are most commonly misclassified? Below are 10 common recycling pitfalls.

How Much Could You Be Fined for Incorrect Disposal? Up to NT$100,000

According to Article 50 of the current Waste Disposal Act, failure to properly classify, store, dispose of, or recycle general waste—or for littering or polluting the environment—can result in a fine of between NT$1,200 and NT$100,000. Authorities may also issue a notice requiring correction within a specified period. If uncorrected by the deadline, additional fines may be imposed per violation.

This penalty took effect following the legal revision on July 15, 2026. In other words, the previously familiar maximum fine of NT$6,000 is no longer the legal upper limit—fines can now reach up to NT$100,000.

However, not every sorting mistake will immediately result in a NT$100,000 fine. Authorities will determine the fine amount based on pollution level, waste characteristics, and potential harm. Municipalities may also set their own rules for waste sorting, collection schedules, designated locations, and disposal methods based on local collection systems. Therefore, actual regulations should follow announcements from your local environmental protection bureau or sanitation team.

Recycling Rule 1: Don’t Recycle Electronic Receipts or Toilet Paper as Waste Paper

Many people instinctively throw all paper products into the waste paper recycling bin. However, thermal paper such as electronic receipts and fax paper, as well as toilet paper, diapers, sticker backing paper, carbon paper, wax paper, and sandpaper, cannot be recycled as regular waste paper.

These items may contain coatings, chemicals, plastic components, or contaminants that degrade the quality of recycled paper and should be treated as general waste. Recyclable paper includes cardboard, newspapers, magazines, books, photocopy paper, paper bags, envelopes, and pure pulp paper products.

Recycling Rule 2: Don’t Recycle Paper Cups or Takeout Boxes Without Cleaning

Paper cups, paper food containers, milk cartons, and aluminum foil pouches are recyclable, but they fall under “paper containers,” not regular waste paper. If they still contain leftover food, liquid, or drink, placing them directly into recycling bags can contaminate other clean paper items.

The correct method is to empty leftover food into the food waste bin, remove straws and non-paper materials, then wipe or rinse and drain before recycling. Milk cartons, beverage cartons, and foil pouches should have straws removed and be flattened to reduce volume.

Recycling Rule 3: Don’t Throw All Plastic Bags and Snack Packaging into Recycling

Not all plastic products are recyclable. According to environmental authorities, only clean, oil-free, single-material plastic bags may be recyclable under local regulations. Plastic bags stained with soup, oil, or raw meat blood should be disposed of as general waste.

Packaging with aluminum foil linings—such as biscuit bags, candy wrappers, and tea bag outer packaging—as well as cling film, straws, tape, plastic film, foam, ballpoint pens, and certain plastic toys—are not part of standard plastic recycling. Do not assume recyclability just because an item has a recycling triangle symbol or is made of plastic.

Recycling Rule 4: Don’t Put Ceramic Bowls or Mirrors in Glass Recycling

Glass bottles, drinking glasses, glass plates, and flat glass are generally recyclable. However, ceramic bowls, vases, tiles, bathroom fixtures like toilets, and mirrors must not be mixed with regular glass containers.

Ceramic, tile, and mirror materials have different compositions and melting points than glass containers. Mixing them can disrupt downstream processing. These items should be disposed of as general waste, non-combustible waste, or through other designated methods according to local sanitation team rules.

Recycling Rule 5: Don’t Put Broken Glass or Blades Directly into Garbage Bags

Broken glassware, shattered glass, blades, and other sharp objects must not be placed directly into garbage bags without protection. Sanitation workers could be injured during handling or garbage compression.

According to regulations, sharp items like glass shards and blades must be securely packaged in puncture-resistant containers such as cardboard boxes, thick paperboard, or PET bottles. Clearly label the outside with “Broken Glass Inside” or “Sharp Objects Inside,” then deliver according to local collection rules.

Recycling Rule 6: Don’t Throw Cassette Gas Canisters or Spray Cans Directly into Garbage Trucks

High-pressure containers like camping stove gas canisters, hair spray cans, and insecticide spray cans may still contain residual gas even if they appear empty. If thrown directly into compacting garbage trucks, pressure, heat, or impact could trigger fires or explosions.

The Environmental Protection Administration recommends fully exhausting residual gas in a well-ventilated, fire-free open area before use. Then, package separately, label “High-Pressure Container Inside,” and hand directly to recycling truck staff. Large household gas cylinders are not part of standard sanitation collection and should be returned to gas suppliers or certified inspection stations.

Recycling Rule 7: Don’t Mix Batteries or Power Banks with General Waste

Dry batteries, button batteries, rechargeable batteries, and lithium batteries must all be recycled and must not be thrown directly into general waste. Especially power banks, phone batteries, and other lithium batteries can ignite or burn if crushed, punctured, or short-circuited.

Before recycling, apply insulating tape to the positive and negative terminals to prevent short circuits from metal contact, then hand to the recycling vehicle following the garbage truck or take to reverse-recycling points at convenience stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, or electronics retailers. Swollen, damaged, or overheating batteries should not remain in homes—contact your local sanitation team or certified recycling channels immediately.

Recycling Rule 8: Don’t Throw Light Bulbs, Phones, or Small Appliances Directly into Garbage Bags

Items like fluorescent tubes, light bulbs, mobile phones, chargers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, and fans have dedicated recycling channels and should not be treated as general waste.

Used light tubes and bulbs should be packed in original packaging, paper sleeves, or sturdy containers to prevent breakage, then handed to recycling trucks or retailers. Large appliances can be collected via retailer take-back programs or by scheduling pickup with the sanitation team. Small electronic devices can be given to recycling trucks. Before recycling phones, delete personal data and remove SIM and memory cards.

Recycling Rule 9: Don’t Dump Kitchen Waste with Plastic Bags, or Pour Waste Oil Down Drains

Kitchen waste should be drained of excess moisture before disposal. Plastic bags, Styrofoam containers, utensils, toothpicks, and other packaging must be removed and not dumped together with food waste. Whether items like fruit peels, bones, shells, and tea grounds are recyclable varies by municipality due to different processing facilities—always follow your local sanitation team’s announcements.

Fried oil, reused oil, and expired cooking oil are recyclable as waste cooking oil and must not be poured into sinks, toilets, drains, or mixed with general kitchen waste. The correct method is to cool the oil, pour it into the original oil bottle, PET bottle, or other leak-proof container, seal tightly, and deliver to the sanitation team’s recycling truck or designated collection point.

Recycling Rule 10: Don’t Leave Furniture or Mattresses on the Sidewalk

Sofas, mattresses, tables, chairs, cabinets, and other large furniture items are classified as bulky waste and must not be left on sidewalks, waste collection areas, or garbage truck stops when no one is watching.

According to the General Waste Recycling and Disposal Regulations, bulky waste must first be reported to the local environmental protection bureau, sanitation team, or contracted collection unit to schedule a pickup date and designated placement location, then disposed of at the agreed time. Leaving items without prior arrangement may obstruct traffic and be considered improper disposal, potentially resulting in fines.

How to Avoid Fines When Sorting Garbage?

When handling waste, remember the four principles: “Separate, Empty, Wash, Ask.” First, separate general waste, recyclables, kitchen waste, and bulky waste. Empty food, liquids, and gases from containers. Rinse and drain containers with residue. When in doubt about an item, consult your local sanitation team.

The Environmental Protection Administration also reminds the public that municipalities may add recycling categories based on local needs. Collection schedules, sorting methods, and recyclable ranges may differ. Therefore, recycling guides seen online from other counties or cities may not apply directly to your area.

Waste sorting may seem like a minor daily task, but incorrect sorting not only increases risks for sanitation workers but can also contaminate entire batches of recyclables. Especially after the 2026 legal revision, the maximum fine for improper waste disposal has increased to NT$100,000. Double-checking before disposal can prevent paying a high price for momentary convenience.