How should you take out your garbage?

Panicking because you don’t have a trash area at home, have no idea how to throw out your garbage, and feel like your apartment is turning into a trash house?! Don’t worry—you’re safe!

Today, we’re going to give you a quick guide on how to take out your trash in Taiwan.
If you live in an apartment with a building manager, there’s usually a trash area inside, so you’re all set. But if you’re in a student apartment, you’ll need to take your trash out yourself.

Here’s the tricky part: unlike in Japan, there aren’t public trash areas on every corner where you can just drop your garbage on your way to work. The garbage truck comes to a designated spot at a fixed time, so you have to be there when it arrives. Plus, there are various rules, which can be a little confusing for foreigners.

But don’t worry! Learn the system, and you can even go chasing the garbage truck with local Taiwanese friends—it’s a fun way to meet people in your community!

Step 1: First, buy the right garbage bags at a convenience store or supermarket.
The key point here is that you cannot just use any bag. Cheap garbage bags sold at stores cannot be used for the garbage truck.

You need to buy the “Taipei City Special Garbage Bags” (臺北市專用垃圾袋), usually blue in color. They include taxes, so they’re a bit pricier. There are other colors, but for now, just remember the blue ones as standard.

By the way, no matter how much you search inside the store, you won’t find these special garbage bags on the shelves. They’re kept at the counter, so you’ll need to ask the staff for the Taipei City Special Garbage Bags.

When you ask, they’ll likely say: “What size do you want?” Just give them the size you need. Sizes range from 3L to 120L, but the most commonly used ones are:

• 3L (21 TWD)

• 5L (36 TWD)

• 14L (100 TWD)

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Step 2: Check where and when the garbage truck comes—and don’t forget to sort your trash!
Once you have your garbage bags, you need to know where and when the truck will pick up your trash. Usually, your landlord will tell you when you move in. If not, ask your landlord or nearby shops.

It varies by neighborhood, but the truck usually comes 2–3 times a day, mainly in the evening and at night. Just like in Japan, the collection day depends on the type of trash, so make sure to check the schedule below.

Type of Trash	Collection Days
General Trash & Food Waste	Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Recyclables – 3D Items	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Recyclables – Flat Items	Monday, Friday

 

Note: There is no garbage collection on Wednesdays and Sundays.

 

Step 3: When you hear “Für Elise,” dash to the garbage truck!

In Taiwan, the garbage truck’s theme song is Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” When you hear it, run! The truck only stops for about 5 minutes, so if you dawdle, it’ll be gone before you know it.

For general trash and food waste, just toss it straight into the back of the truck. For bulky trash, hand it over to the staff.

So, how was that? Once you’ve got the hang of how to take out your trash, you can rest easy even if your apartment doesn’t have a garbage area!

Photo courtesy of the Taipei City Tourism Bureau: https://www.dep.gov.taipei/
Please note: Garbage collection schedules and regulations may change from time to time.