After the rain stops, putting a torn raincoat in a roadside trash bin may feel natural.
However, in a case reported by Taiwanese media on August 19~20, the material and accessories of a lightweight disposable raincoat determined how it should be handled.
The search term 垃圾 was observed in Taiwan’s search market, but that alone cannot establish the actual location of this case.
3-Line Summary
1. Disposable raincoats are recyclable items depending on their material
2. A single plastic material and a clean condition are the criteria
3. The ties and main body must not be discarded together
A Case of a Yellow Lightweight Raincoat Being Put in a Trash Bin
China Times News reported on August 19 that a person riding a motorcycle on a rainy day put a yellow lightweight raincoat in a roadside trash bin after it tore, and was then subject to enforcement action and a fine by environmental authorities. The person posted online about the incident in terms of how one raincoat had become an expensive lesson. China Times News report
TVBS News and Storm Media also reported on the same online post and enforcement case. The point repeated across all three reports was not simply that the raincoat had torn, but that it could be classified as a plastic recyclable item. To the person throwing it away, it was a single damaged raincoat; under sorting standards, however, it was an item whose main material and attached components had to be considered separately.
This case should not be applied to every raincoat. The explanations cited in the reports concerned raincoats that were lightweight and made of a single plastic material. Even if a raincoat has the same lightweight appearance, a different material or a mixture of other materials does not guarantee the same disposal result.
Three Things to Check Before the Raincoat’s Main Body
The Tainan City Environmental Protection Bureau explained in Storm Media’s report that lightweight raincoats made of a single plastic material are plastic recyclables. Before putting out a raincoat, it advised removing dirt and visibly noticeable contaminants, as well as non-plastic components such as elastic cords around the head or tightening areas. The main body of the raincoat should then be placed out for collection by a recycling truck.
The New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau also stated in China Times News’ report that lightweight raincoats are generally made of a single plastic material and can therefore be recycled. However, it added the condition that mud or oil contamination must first be removed. More important, in sequence, than the impression that something “looks like plastic” are whether it is made of a single material, whether contamination remains, and whether non-plastic accessories have been removed.
In particular, the elastic cords and tightening cords were reported to be items that should not be put out for recycling with the raincoat, but should instead be handled separately as general waste. TVBS News likewise summarized that the cords of a disposable raincoat should be removed before it is put out for collection. If the main body and cords are treated as one piece, the sorting category may change because of the smallest component.
Raincoats with Zippers and Reflective Strips Are Classified Differently
Regular raincoats and two-piece raincoats were introduced as cases different from lightweight disposable raincoats. Storm Media reported that thicker raincoats contain multiple materials, including zippers, buttons, reflective strips, and elastic bands, and that if they lack a recycling label or are made of composite materials, they should be handled as general waste. TVBS News also reported that regular and two-piece raincoats are usually made of composite materials and are therefore difficult to recycle.
TVBS News added an exception. If a regular raincoat has a plastic recycling label numbered 1~6, it may be recycled after the collection workers make a judgment. This was not an announcement that a label alone automatically makes an item recyclable; the condition mentioned both the label and on-site judgment. Therefore, the criteria for disposable raincoats cannot be applied as-is to thicker raincoats.
The same reports also covered the classification of items used together on rainy days. Umbrellas are recyclable items and can be put out for collection, and briefly separating the umbrella ribs from the umbrella fabric is said to help processing efficiency. By contrast, rubber boots made from multiple materials are general waste. The fact that items all have the common purpose of blocking rain does not determine that they belong to the same category.
Sorting Conditions Come Before the Fine Amount
The three reports stated that when waste is discarded in violation of regulations or a designated garbage bag is not used, a legally prescribed fine of 1,200~6,000-won units (1200~6000) may be imposed. Rather than focusing on the exact procedure or amount actually applied to the person in the article, the reports presented the act of judging a lightweight raincoat to be general waste and discarding it as the starting point of the problem.
Online reactions included comments saying, “I didn’t know lightweight raincoats were recyclable,” as well as claims that people had experienced confusion during the actual collection process. However, these reactions represent users’ experiences and opinions; they are not confirmed facts that the processing standards across all collection sites are identical. They need to be viewed separately from the material, contamination, and accessory criteria stated by each environmental bureau.
Storm Media also reported an environmental organization’s suggestion that old raincoats that are not yet severely damaged can be reused as waterproof ground sheets, children’s stain-resistant aprons, or waterproof storage packaging. However, this is a method of reuse, not a waste-disposal classification rule. The standard left by this case when discarding a torn lightweight raincoat is simple: check whether the main body is made of a single plastic material, wipe off contaminants, and separate the cords as general waste.
References
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