To address the challenges of limited resources and excessive environmental burden, and to advance toward the sustainable vision of achieving net-zero emissions and zero waste by 2050, the Ministry of Environment has proposed draft amendments to the “Resource Recycling Act,” including its renaming to the “Resource Circulation Promotion Act,” along with simultaneous amendments to the “Waste Disposal Act.” Starting today, the draft is open for a 60-day pre-announcement period, and the Ministry sincerely invites all sectors to actively provide opinions and suggestions.

The Ministry explains that the current legal framework can no longer fully respond to the development of the circular economy or the practical needs of industries. To strengthen Taiwan’s resource circulation system, the Ministry has formulated the draft amendments based on extensive consultation with industry, trade associations, environmental groups, academic experts, and relevant government agencies. Among these, the “Resource Circulation Promotion Act” emphasizes full life-cycle management to create value, reduce waste, and lower material consumption, presenting four main focus areas; meanwhile, the “Waste Disposal Act” focuses on effective prevention and curbing of illegal dumping, with four key priorities.

I. Key Highlights of the Resource Circulation Promotion Act Draft Amendments

i. Cross-Ministerial Coordination: Establishment of a Resource Circulation Promotion Committee to ensure collaborative promotion of resource circulation plans across ministries.

ii. Sustainable Product Policy: Introduction of green design principles, the application of recycled materials in products and engineering, source reduction measures, restrictions on certain materials, and repair and maintenance mechanisms to extend product lifespan. Additionally, the policy aims to promote consumer purchasing decisions through fully disclosed information and to advance product digital tracking.

iii. Market-driven Circular Procurement: Promotion of government priority procurement of circular products to stimulate circular supply chains.

iv. Support for Circular Industries: Provision of grants, subsidies, financing, and guarantee mechanisms; assistance in providing land for resource circulation activities to address land acquisition challenges; and establishment of a “Circular Experiment Sandbox” to encourage innovation.

II. Key Highlights of the Waste Disposal Act Draft Amendments

i. Inclusion of Emerging Waste: Management of new types of waste, such as photovoltaic panels and wind turbine blades.

ii. Enhanced Reuse Management: Central coordination by the Ministry of Environment over 10 ministries and 14 regulatory frameworks, with strengthened measures to ensure the quality of reuse products and operational management.

iii. Deterrence of Illegal Dumping and Severe Penalties: Empowerment of the competent authority for surplus construction earth and rocks to implement full material flow tracking, the use of electronic fences and other technology-based enforcement tools, imposition of stricter criminal penalties, and advance safeguarding of environmental restoration funds to realize environmental justice.

iv. Protection of Environmental Sanitation: Raising penalties and applying a reversed burden of proof for violations related to general waste and environmental sanitation.

The Ministry further explains that, beyond integrating reuse authority, the draft will also provide a two-year transition period for reuse businesses to adjust to the new requirements. Additionally, to enhance the transparency of the legislation and foster public participation, the pre-announcement content has been published simultaneously on the Ministry’s News Section and the Official Regulation Inquiry System. All sectors are encouraged to submit opinions or suggestions within 60 days from the date of announcement.