The Environmental Protection Agency will further restrict the use of plastic bags starting from Jan. 1 in 2018. Earlier in May, the New Taipei City government launched a pilot scheme that no longer allows consumers to buy plastic shopping bags in several supermarkets and convenience stores. It is hoped that shopping bags will not be sold to consumers in New Taipei City by October. Starting from May, a supermarket in New Taipei City began a pilot scheme to no longer sell consumers plastic shopping bags. Many consumers think that the trial scheme is good, and it caused no inconvenience to them. ==CONSUMER== The basket I bring with me today is small. In case I buy too many things, I also bring some plastic bags with me. ==CONSUMER== I bring my own shopping bag because it is more convenient and environmentally friendly. The supermarket said that so far, it has not received any complaints from consumers and most of them bring their own shopping bags to shop. The supermarket still offers recycled plastic bags, paper bags, and cartons for those who forget to bring their own shopping bags. Consumers can also choose to buy dual-use plastic bags, using them as designated garbage bags afterwards. The successful result of the scheme made the New Taipei City government decide to enlarge it to other chain stores. ==SUN CHUNG-WEI Spokesman, EPD, New Taipei City Gov.== Over 300 businesses will start to join the pilot scheme from July. We hope that by October, all chain supermarkets and convenience stores in New Taipei City will stop selling plastic shopping bags to consumers. Every year, around 18 billion plastic bags are consumed in Taiwan. Starting from Jan.1 next year, the Environmental Protection Agency will further restrict the use of plastic bags. The EPA hopes that the measure will help decrease the use of plastic bags from source. The New Taipei City government will implement the trial measure this year, giving both businesses and consumers more time for adjustment. TRANSLATED BY ARIEL HSIEH 環保署擴大限塑政策，明年元旦起上路，新北市5月起提前在賣場、超商試辦，由於成效良好，七月開始，包括大潤發、愛買等13家業者，共330家門市將全面跟進試辦，預計10月起，新北市所有的賣場、超市、超商業者，將全面停售塑膠袋。 提著大包小包走出賣場，新北市的這家大賣場從5月開始試辦，不賣購物用塑膠袋，民眾不但不覺得不方便，還覺得這樣很好。 ==新北市民眾== 我會自己帶 像我今天拿的籃子比較小 我就怕我萬一買東西買太過頭 我會帶備用(塑膠袋) ==新北市民眾== 我自己帶購物袋來的 比較方便啦 環保 這家賣場表示，5月試辦以來，沒有接到任何客訴，而且民眾也大多都會自行攜帶環保購物袋，就算忘了，店裡也免費提供回收再利用的塑膠袋、紙袋或是紙箱，也可以購買二次袋，使用過後可以成為隨袋徵收垃圾費的垃圾袋，由於試辦成效不錯，新北市決定要再擴大試辦。 ==新北市環保局發言人 孫忠偉== 大概有三百多家的業者 確定會在七月份 開始陸續的 也來加入試辦的行列 我們期待在十月份的時候 能夠全市的 包含量販店 連鎖超商等等 都可以來全面的 停售購物用塑膠袋 目前台灣一年仍用掉180億個塑膠袋，明年元旦起，環保署將推動的擴大限塑政策，希望從源頭減量，新北市政府提前試辦，讓業者和民眾能夠逐步調整，也先為環保盡一份心力。 記者 陳姝君 莊志成 台北報導