Department of Sports, Taipei City Government

To better understand Taipei citizens’ views on environmental issues, including but not limited to the overall city's landscape, garbage disposal and processing, public trash cans, usage of melamine, and disposable tableware. The Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission of the Taipei City Government conducted an opinion poll from July 28th, 2020 until July 31st, 2020. 

【Cityscape/ City Landscape】
According to the research, out of the 1,155 interviewees, 61% of the respondents are satisfied with Taipei's cityscape, and 27% of the respondents are unsatisfied with Taipei’s cityscape. In fact, out of the 331 respondents that were unsatisfied with Taipei's cityscape, the top three reasons that have contributed to their views includes old and worn out buildings (52%), cars and motorcycles parking at inappropriate locations (18%), and the lack of street cleanliness due to excess trash on roadsides (17%). In terms of the city’s landscape, 57% of the respondents agree that it has improved, and 30% of the respondents did not see much change. From the 659 respondents that supported the improvement, 56% of them believed that streets and park views have contributed to the greening of the city, 21% believed that buildings and signs are better organized, and 15% believed that open spaces have been beautified. Also, 75% of the respondents are satisfied with the cleanliness of streets and roads in Taipei.

【Garbage Processing and Public Trashcans 】
After interviewing the 1,155 interviewee’s habit of disposing of the trash while in motion, 44% would search for nearby public trash cans to dispose the trash, and 38% would carry it back home for disposal. In the past six months, 24% of respondents have not frequently seen public trash cans filled up, 19% of respondents have rarely seen filled up public trash cans, and 24% of respondents have sometimes seen filled up trash cans, and 29% of respondents have frequently seen filled up public trash cans. On the other hand, 74% of the respondents supported the installation of sidewalk public trash cans, and 21% of the respondents opposed the installation of sidewalk trash cans. The percentage of respondents that oppose the installation of sidewalk trash cans have increased by 4% compared to research conducted in 2016. With this in mind, 87% of the respondents supported only installing trash cans at specific locations such as night markets and business/shopping districts, and only 12% opposed such an idea. Also, 43% of the respondents understand the possible fines and consequences that may result from littering. 
In response, the Department of Environmental Protection of the Taipei City Government has stated that it would prioritize installing public trash cans at locations that have the highest demand and efficiency, such as business/shopping districts, tourist attractions, and transportation hotspots. In addition, in order to maintain the city’s cleanliness, the Department would continue to inform citizens of potential results and fines from littering, and would also use cameras to collect evidence and issue citations on the side. Finally, the Department would increase its frequency in checking, and emptying public trash cans. 
 
【Banning of disposable and melamine tableware, the usage of reusable tableware and bags】
Out of the 1,155 interviewees, 76% supported the banning of disposable and melamine tableware, 60% would carry reusable tableware with them when dining out, in terms of frequency, 33% of respondents frequently do so. On the other hand, out of 93% of the respondents would prepare and carry their shopping bags, and 77% would frequently do so.  

【Background Information of the Opinion Poll】
This research was conducted during the evenings from the 28th of July 2020 to the 31st of July 2020, respondents were randomly selected and reached on residential landlines numbers registered in Taipei City. Overall, 1,155 Taipei citizens over the age of 18 were successfully interviewed; and under a 95% confidence interval, the margin of sampling errors is under ±2.88%.