Taking out the trash in Taipei can be quite exciting. If it's your first trash take out experience then you should read this quick guide so that you don't make a fool of yourself in front of the locals.

Trash Bags :

       In order to cut down on the amount of trash, the government requires people to buy special trash bags. Without the special blue bags the trash truck won't pick up your trash. The bags cost from 45nt to 450nt depending on the size you buy. You can get them at any convenience store, but they are behind the counter and you will have to ask the attendant for them.

The Trash Truck :

       The trash truck comes around five days a week (not Wednesday or Sunday). It stops at numerous locations and one of them will be in your area. The truck always plays a deafening melody when it arrives so you shouldn't have a difficult time hunting it down. Luckily it arrives at the same time everyday, so you wont have to wait around with your bag of trash. When you get to the truck just toss your trash in the back.

Food Waste:

       In keeping with the less garbage policy, Taipei city asks that you seperate your food waste from your trash and deliver it with the regular trash. You can put food waste in either the big trash can behind the garbage truck, or the truck behind the garbage truck which is only for food waste. You are also asked to sort the food waste into either cooked foood (which is fed to pigs) or uncooked food (which is composted).

Recycling:

       You may have noticed yet a third truck behind the trash truck and the food waste truck, this is the recycling truck. The recycling truck takes away all your recyclables. Once again you are asked to sort them into different groups, plastics, aluminum cans, paper and glass. Paper, cans and plastic can be recycled anytime, glass however, will only be taken on Tuesday and Thursday.

Old People:

       You may have noticed that some old people wander around looking for recycleable stuff. That's because unlike you and me, elderly folks get money for returning plastic, paper and aluminum. They usually don't want glass (except for Taiwan beer bottles), but sometimes they will take it for you. If there's an old person collecting things at your trash pickup, it's nice to save your paper, plastic and cans for them.

Taiwan Beer:

       Besides being delicious, Taiwan beer has another special property, you can actually get paid for drinking it. Or more like you get paid for bringing back the old bottles. Each bottle is worth two nt, so with all the alcohol you consume that should come out to just about enough for dinner. Start collecting.