Implementation Plan for Reducing the Use of Disposable Tableware and Packaged Drinking Water
National Chi Nan University
Implementation Plan for Reducing the Use of Disposable Tableware and Packaged Drinking Water
1. Legal Basis
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of the Executive Yuan formulated the "Operational Guidelines for Government Agencies and Schools to Reduce the Use of Disposable Tableware and Packaged Drinking Water," stipulating mandatory implementation no later than December 31, 2022. Furthermore, to ensure rigorous compliance across all subordinate agencies and academic institutions, the Ministry of Education (MOE) enacted the "Implementation Principles for the Ministry of Education and Its Subordinate Agencies and Schools to Reduce Disposable Tableware and Packaged Drinking Water." These regulations specify applicable targets, operational scope, implementation timelines, key precautions, reporting standards, and reduction calculation templates for institutional reference and alignment.
2. Applicable Targets and Scope
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First-Level Administrative Units of NCNU: Meetings, training sessions, and events organized and hosted by the university's first-level administrative units.
Note: First-level administrative units include: Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Student Affairs, Office of General Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Office of International Affairs, Secretariat, University Library, Computer and Network Center, Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health, Personnel Office, and Accounting and Statistics Office.
- External Entities Renting/Borrowing Campus Venues: Meetings, training sessions, and events organized by external organizations utilizing office premises, facilities, or campus grounds of NCNU.
3. Implementation Methods
Each participating and executing unit must designate one primary contact person to oversee compliance and data aggregation.
A. For Meetings and Training Sessions
- No single-use or disposable tableware shall be provided.
- No packaged drinking water (bottled water) or single-use beverage cups of any material shall be provided.
B. For Campus Events
- Reusable Tableware Provision: Reusable and washable tableware shall be provided in principle. This may be facilitated via free rental, lease, or deposit-borrowing schemes, or by utilizing contracted off-campus tableware washing and sanitization services.
- Incentives for Personal Containers: Encourage and provide discounts or preferential arrangements for participants bringing their own reusable tableware and cups.
- Water Refill Stations: Drinking fountains or bulk container water dispensers must be installed and made accessible to eliminate the demand for single-use bottled water.
C. Definitions of Operational Categories
- Meetings: Includes academic symposiums, orientation seminars, briefings, public hearings, consultative sessions, and international conferences.
- Training Sessions: Includes workshops, seminars, continuing education modules, and professional skill training courses.
- Events: Includes celebrations, formal ceremonies, campus carnivals, fairs, cultural exhibitions, and festive activities.
D. Exceptional Circumstances
In instances where no catering providers can accommodate the non-disposable requirement, or under special operational constraints necessitating single-use products, an exception request may be filed. For events of the same operational category sharing identical justification, units may compile and submit a single annual waiver petition for approval by the head of the institution (the President) or an authorized designee. Upon official approval, the records must be submitted to the Ministry of Education for documentation and future reference.
4. Reporting Protocols (Appendix Table 1)
- Reduction of Single-Use Products: Units must track the reduction outcomes achieved across meetings, training sessions, and events, reporting metrics including total sessions conducted, estimated units of disposable tableware avoided, bottles of packaged water eliminated, and single-use beverage cups reduced.
- Authorized Use of Single-Use Products: In cases where single-use products were approved due to verified vendor limitations or exceptional constraints, units must record the total approved sessions, responsible departmental list, and specific operational justifications.
5. Aggregation and Workflow Timeline
- First-Level Administrative Units: Responsible for tracking their hosted sessions using Appendix Table 1. After obtaining the signature and approval of the unit director, reports must be submitted to the Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health by the 7th day of each month.
- Venue Management Units: Units managing campus venues rented or borrowed by external organizations must verify and report the execution outcomes of external events using Appendix Table 1. Signed records must be submitted to the Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health by the 7th day of each month.
- University-Wide Coordination: The Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health serves as the central administrative hub. The center compiles all campus-wide data and reports the prior month's reduction outcomes to the EPA's "Domestic Waste Material Management Information System" by the 10th day of each month.
6. Contact Information
Designated Liaison: Mr. Sung-Yi Chen (陳松毅)
Department: Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health, NCNU
Extension: 4211
E-mail: chensy@ncnu.edu.tw
* Executing units with operational or reporting questions are encouraged to contact the liaison directly.
7. Additional Provisions
To build an institutional culture dedicated to environmental sustainability, measures must not be confined solely to first-level administrative units or leased venue activities. Campus authorities overseeing university cafeterias, restaurants, and event facilities must incorporate provisions for "reducing disposable tableware and packaged drinking water" into their facility usage and concession management guidelines, ensuring a holistic campus-wide execution.
