A nationwide rule requiring chain beverage shops to offer discounts of NT$5 (US$0.17) or more to customers who bring their own cups will take effect on July 1, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The new policy, which the EPA announced in April, will apply to over 50,000 chain retail locations including beverage shops, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and supermarkets.

It aims to cut down on waste from single-use plastic cups, more than 2.2 billion of which were used in Taiwan during the year 2020, the agency said.

For customers’ convenience, the EPA said it has asked retailers to display signs stating how much of a discount they offered to customers who bring their own cups, or use a reusable cup provided by the store.

Ahead of the policy’s implementation, both McDonald’s and KFC branches in Taiwan began offering NT$5 discounts this month for customers who order beverages using their own cups, the agency said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel