Designated garbage bags in both Taipei and New Taipei cost NT$0.36 per liter, and the same size costs the same: a pack of 20 bags of 3 liters is NT$21, 5 liters NT$36, 14 liters NT$100, 25 liters NT$180, 33 liters NT$237, and a pack of 5 bags of 120 liters is NT$216. Since May 1, 2019, the designated garbage bags of Taipei and New Taipei and the dual-purpose eco bags (環保兩用袋) can be used interchangeably. The main difference between the two cities is the large bag: Taipei's is a pack of 76 liters at NT$273, New Taipei's is a pack of 75 liters at NT$270, and New Taipei's 75-liter bag can also be bought singly.
Note: The outer packaging of the designated bags must not be used to hold garbage, and garbage handed to the garbage truck must not be put in another plastic bag or a carton on the outside of the designated bag. Not using the designated bag violates the rules on putting out general waste: the statutory fine under Article 50 of the Waste Disposal Act (amended July 15, 2026) is not less than NT$1,200 and not more than NT$100,000; the NT$3,600 to NT$6,000 ("not less than NT$3,600 and not more than NT$6,000") in the Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection FAQ is the penalty standard that the Taipei department lists itself. The actual amount is whatever the penalty notice states. Buy at convenience stores, supermarkets or shops that display a sales sign, and do not buy bags of unknown origin. Prices and rules are subject to the latest announcements of the two cities' environmental protection departments.
Prices by size
The table below follows the designated garbage bag pages of the two cities' environmental protection departments (verified 2026-10-31); the rightmost column is this article's own calculation of pack price divided by the number of bags, not an official list price.
| Size | Bags per pack | Taipei price per pack | New Taipei price per pack | Average per bag (calculated for this article) |
|---|
| 3 liters | 20 bags | NT$21 | NT$21 | about NT$1.05 |
| 5 liters | 20 bags | NT$36 | NT$36 | NT$1.8 |
| 14 liters | 20 bags | NT$100 | NT$100 | NT$5 |
| 25 liters | 20 bags | NT$180 | NT$180 | NT$9 |
| 33 liters | 20 bags | NT$237 | NT$237 | about NT$11.85 |
| Taipei 76 liters / New Taipei 75 liters | 10 bags | NT$273 (76 liters) | NT$270 (75 liters); can also be bought singly | about NT$27 |
| 120 liters | 5 bags | NT$216 | NT$216 | NT$43.2 |
| dual-purpose eco bags (環保兩用袋), small / medium / large | Sold at retail only when shopping | NT$1 / NT$2 / NT$5 | NT$1 / NT$2 / NT$5 | — |
Taipei also has a "retail version" of the 3-liter bag at NT$1 each and the 14-liter bag at NT$5 each (from the Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection's introduction to designated garbage bags). New Taipei's dual-purpose eco bags are marked with capacities of 2.8 liters (small), 5.6 liters (medium) and 13.9 liters (large), and are sold at retail only. The Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection says that designated bags have a capacity limit line, that the charged capacity is the part below the line, and that about 30% of the volume above it is reserved for tying the bag shut.
How the price is set, and will it go up
Both cities charge garbage fees by the bag (垃圾費隨袋徵收): the money you pay for the bag is the garbage collection and disposal fee. The Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection explains that Taipei stopped collecting fees with water bills from July 1, 2000 (previously NT$4 in garbage fees was added per unit of tap water used) and switched to charging by the bag; recyclables and food waste, sorted and handed over as required, do not need designated bags. The price of a designated bag is the fee for collecting and disposing of that volume of garbage, and does not include the cost of making and marketing the bag.
- Taipei: the price per liter was cut from NT$0.45 to NT$0.36 on March 1, 2013. The calculation formula is in Article 7 of Taipei's ordinance on collecting general waste collection and disposal fees (臺北市一般廢棄物清除處理費徵收自治條例; "the ordinance" below); Article 14 of its enforcement rules (施行細則) requires a price change to be announced 24 hours in advance.
- New Taipei: a pilot of charging by the bag started in July 2008 and it was fully implemented on December 25, 2010; an announcement of September 19, 2012 cut the price from NT$0.42 to NT$0.4 per liter, and from May 1, 2019 it was cut to NT$0.36, the same as Taipei. The current basis is New Taipei City Government announcement 新北府環資字 No. 1081479797 of August 12, 2019, under which the price is NT$0.36 per liter from November 1, 2019.
A long-standing announcement on the home page of New Taipei's garbage collection information site says: "Designated garbage bags are the pricing tool for charging garbage fees by the bag; prices will not rise because of cost fluctuations, and overall supply is secure."
Can Taipei and New Taipei garbage bags be used interchangeably?
Yes. The New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department explains that the mayors of Taipei and New Taipei reached a consensus on March 11, 2019, and that "mutual acceptance of Taipei and New Taipei garbage bags" has been in effect since May 1, 2019: residents of both cities can use the designated garbage bags or dual-purpose eco bags of either city to put out household garbage for the sanitation teams. Mutual acceptance applies as long as the bag carries a New Taipei or Taipei anti-counterfeit label.
The Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection FAQ (data updated 2026-10-25) says that Taipei residents can use New Taipei designated garbage bags (including dual-purpose eco bags and all-purpose bags, 萬用袋) to put out household general waste for Taipei garbage trucks. Taipei's old-style 45-liter and 92-liter bags are also accepted once an anti-counterfeit label is attached.
Where to buy, whether you can buy one, and what if you buy the wrong one
- Where to buy: Article 3 of Taipei's enforcement rules provides that designated garbage bags must be bought from authorized retailers that have contracts with the department. The New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department asks residents to buy from designated chain convenience stores, supermarkets, and specialty shops displaying the "designated garbage bag sales point" sign (專用垃圾袋銷售處).
- Packs cannot be split for single sale: taking Taipei's 5-liter bag as an example, a pack costs NT$36 and works out to an average of NT$1.8 per bag; because of the decimal point and the price not dividing evenly, bags are shipped by the pack. If you want to buy in small quantities, use the retail version or New Taipei's 75-liter retail bag.
- Dual-purpose eco bags: Taipei's announcement of February 13, 2018 says dual-purpose bags are sold at retail only when shopping; they cannot be sold by the pack, cannot be bought on their own without a purchase, and designated garbage bag discount coupons cannot be exchanged for dual-purpose bags.
- Defects and exchanges: Article 3 of Taipei's enforcement rules provides that a defective bag can be exchanged for a new one of the same type within 6 months of purchase on presentation of the bag, with no refund. If you bought the wrong model at a chain convenience store, you can take the original receipt and the unopened pack back to the original store to return it and buy again (except at OK (OK 超市) stores and military welfare stores (國防福利站); the amount of the repurchase must exceed the original purchase amount); if you move away from Taipei and New Taipei and the pack is unopened, you can return it with the purchase receipt and proof of relocation, and a handling fee will be deducted (Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection). Taipei's toll-free designated garbage bag lines are 0800-064-088 and 0800-064-938; New Taipei's inquiry line for charging garbage fees by the bag is 0800-085-350.
How to pack so it is not rejected: penalties at a glance
Article 10 of Taipei's enforcement rules provides that designated bags must be filled only up to the capacity reference line, and the part above it must be tied shut; the bag must not be overstuffed to the point of tearing or leaking liquid, otherwise the department may issue a citation under the law or require the bag to be replaced. The outer packaging is PP, cannot bear weight and is not suitable for holding garbage; it can be handed to the recycling truck as clean plastic (Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection).
| Violation | Basis | Amount |
|---|
| Taipei: general garbage not put in a designated garbage bag | The department's standard listed in the Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection FAQ (data updated 2026-10-20); the legal basis is Article 50 of the Waste Disposal Act | Not less than NT$3,600 and not more than NT$6,000 (Taipei standard) |
| Taipei: forging or selling counterfeit bags, or buying or using bags knowing they are counterfeit; selling designated bags without consent | Article 9 of the ordinance | NT$30,000 to NT$100,000, with penalties that may be imposed per occurrence |
| Violating the rules on sorting, storing and putting out general waste (statutory range, applies in both Taipei and New Taipei) | Article 50 of the Waste Disposal Act (amended 2026-07-15) | Not less than NT$1,200 and not more than NT$100,000, with a deadline for correction and penalties that may be imposed per occurrence |
The range set by law is Article 50 of the Waste Disposal Act: not less than NT$1,200 and not more than NT$100,000 (amended July 15, 2026, already in force). The NT$3,600 to NT$6,000 in Taipei's FAQ is the Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection's own standard; the actual amount is whatever the penalty notice states. No specific fine for "not using a designated garbage bag" was found on the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department pages; the recycling rules page of the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department lists NT$1,200 to NT$6,000 for failing to sort recyclables as required, see how to sort recycling.
Things that do not need a designated bag: recyclables (Article 8 of Taipei's enforcement rules, but they must not be mixed with other waste), food waste (see how to sort food waste for how to separate it), and bulky waste whose collection you have arranged with the sanitation team (no disposal fee under Article 3 of the ordinance; for the process see how to dispose of bulky waste). If you are unsure about a single item, you can look it up in how to dispose of garbage: sorting and collection lookup.
FAQ
Can I put out garbage bags bought in New Taipei in Taipei?
Yes. Taipei and New Taipei have accepted each other's garbage bags since May 1, 2019; the garbage trucks of both cities accept designated garbage bags and dual-purpose eco bags that carry a New Taipei or Taipei anti-counterfeit label.
Can I buy just one garbage bag at a convenience store?
Standard sizes are sold by the pack and cannot be split for single sale. Taipei has a retail version of the 3-liter bag (NT$1) and the 14-liter bag (NT$5); New Taipei's 75-liter bag can be bought singly. Dual-purpose eco bags can only be added on when you are shopping and cannot be bought on their own.
Can I put another plastic bag around the designated bag?
No. The Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection explains that garbage handed to the garbage truck must be inside the designated garbage bag, and may not be placed in another plastic bag, carton or container.
Last updated: 2026-10-31
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information and is for general reference only. For your own case, contact the Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection (1999) or the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department (inquiry line for charging garbage fees by the bag: 0800-085-350).
Sources
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: introduction to designated garbage bags (in Chinese; data updated 2025-02-24, verified 2026-10-31): prices and bag counts by size, retail version at NT$1 and NT$5, about 30% of the volume reserved above the limit line.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: what are the prices of designated garbage bags and how many bags per pack? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): NT$0.36 per liter since March 1, 2013, prices by pack, dual-purpose bags at NT$1, 2 and 5.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: can designated garbage bags be sold at retail? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): sold by the pack, cannot be opened for single sale, 5-liter average of NT$1.8.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: can the outer packaging of designated garbage bags be used to hold garbage? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): the outer packaging is not suitable for holding garbage and can be recycled as clean plastic.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: why does Taipei charge garbage fees by the bag? (in Chinese; data updated 2025-01-23, verified 2026-10-31): switched to charging by the bag on July 1, 2000, previously NT$4 per unit, price excludes bag-making and marketing costs.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: scope and method of the mutual acceptance policy for Taipei and New Taipei designated garbage bags (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): New Taipei designated garbage bags (including dual-purpose bags and all-purpose bags) can be used.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: which designated garbage bags can be collected by garbage trucks? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): list of accepted bag types.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: how does the department handle people who do not use designated garbage bags? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-20, verified 2026-10-31): not using a designated bag is penalized at not less than NT$3,600 and not more than NT$6,000.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: can a garbage bag be placed in another plastic bag, carton or container for the garbage truck? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-20, verified 2026-10-31): it may not be put in another bag or container.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: how to use and buy dual-purpose eco bags (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): dual-purpose bags are for retail with a purchase only and cannot be bought on their own without shopping.
- Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection: how are returns and exchanges of designated garbage bags handled? (in Chinese; data updated 2026-10-25, verified 2026-10-31): conditions for returns and exchanges and the toll-free lines.
- Taipei laws and regulations database (臺北市法規查詢系統): Taipei's ordinance on collecting general waste collection and disposal fees (臺北市一般廢棄物清除處理費徵收自治條例) (in Chinese; amended 2014-10-31, verified 2026-10-31): Article 3 no disposal fee for bulky waste, Article 7 price formula, Article 9 penalties.
- Taipei laws and regulations database (臺北市法規查詢系統): enforcement rules of the ordinance (臺北市一般廢棄物清除處理費徵收自治條例施行細則) (in Chinese; amended 2023-12-15, verified 2026-10-31): Articles 3, 8, 10 and 14.
- New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department: introduction to and identification of designated garbage bags and dual-purpose eco bags (in Chinese; page updated 2026-10-31, verified 2026-10-31): where to buy, prices by size, 75-liter bag sold at retail, dual-purpose bag capacities.
- New Taipei laws and regulations database (新北市法規查詢系統): announcement 新北府環資字 No. 1081479797 (2019-08-12, verified 2026-10-31) (in Chinese): NT$0.36 per liter from November 1, 2019.
- New Taipei City Government governance achievements site (施政成果網): Taipei and New Taipei bag and dual-purpose eco bag prices are the same and interchangeable (in Chinese; verified 2026-10-31): history of New Taipei's rates and the mutual use between the two cities.
- New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department: Taipei and New Taipei garbage bag mutual acceptance finalized, effective May 1 (in Chinese; verified 2026-10-31): mutual acceptance from May 1, 2019 and the anti-counterfeit label condition.
- New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department: garbage collection information site home page (in Chinese; verified 2026-10-31): long-standing announcement: designated garbage bags will not rise in price because of cost fluctuations.
- National laws and regulations database (全國法規資料庫): Waste Disposal Act (in Chinese; amended July 15, 2026, verified 2026-10-31): Article 12 and the Article 50 penalties.
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