To tackle the growing challenges of illegal dumping and resource depletion, as well as to align Taiwan with international standards for green supply chains, the Executive Yuan on April 9, 2026, approved draft amendments to the Waste Disposal Act and the Resource Recycling Act, with the latter to be renamed the Resource Circulation Promotion Act. The proposed changes not only strengthen regulatory controls and introduce stricter penalties for violations, but also support industrial innovation and circular design, thereby facilitating Taiwan's transition from a linear to a circular economy, and advancing the government's vision of zero waste and its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Key Changes
Waste Disposal Act
■ Regulate emerging waste streams: Extend regulatory coverage to solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbine blades to ensure that manufacturers, importers and installers fulfill their recycling, clearance and disposal responsibilities.
■ Adopt a unified framework for reuse management oversight: Enhance tracking from source to end user, and develop mechanisms for certification, verification and product quality management.
■ Punish illegal dumping and prevent asset dissipation: Implement geofence monitoring and increase criminal penalties. Allow administrative authorities to freeze assets without posting security, preventing businesses from fraudulently transferring assets, while ensuring funding for environmental restoration.
Resource Circulation Promotion Act
■ Adopt green design: Establish green design principles for products and construction projects to foster the "Green Made in Taiwan" (gMIT) brand.
■ Advance source reduction: Roll out measures to promote reuse, reduce consumption and restrict or prohibit certain uses. Provide repair, leasing, extended warranty and buy-back services.
■ Boost sustainable consumption: Implement circular labeling and product information disclosure frameworks to encourage green purchasing.
■ Strengthen interministerial collaboration: Establish an interministerial Resource Circulation Promotion Committee, and formulate an integrated national program for resource circulation.
■ Create a "Circular Experiment Sandbox": Permit experimental innovation within a controlled setting with partial regulatory exemptions, fostering R&D in innovative technologies and cultivating circular economy business models for the future.
■ Support circular economy industries: Offer incentives or grants to businesses that demonstrate strong resource circularity performance, and prioritize their access to financing and credit guarantees.