Zero Waste Detergent Refill Stations Open in Hualien 無包裝洗衣精補充站駐花蓮 自備容器環保

To reduce plastic waste, the Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau has set up four laundry detergent refill stations around the county.

Everyone in line at the zero waste laundry detergent refill station is holding some kind of empty container. The newly opened station is offering a promotion of one free liter for every two liters purchased, and another free liter for boosted people.

Ms. Chiang, Hualien Resident: “The packaging for refill bags gets discarded too, so supplying your own empty bottles is really good.”

This is Hualien's first zero waste laundry detergent refill station. Due to higher transport costs, companies were initially less willing to set up stations in Hualien than elsewhere. Carbon emissions are reduced by 0.34 kilograms per every plastic bottle that is refilled rather than sold.

Chang Hua-yu, Section Chief, Waste Control Div., Environmental Protection Bureau, Hualien County: “The detergent company uses a deposit system in other municipalities, but because operating in Hualien requires higher transport costs, they were willing to lower the rate here. Our bureau is acting as an intermediary to help them find suitable locations. Rent is offset by electricity subsidies of NT$150-200 per month.”

Formosa Biomedical Technology currently has four refill stations in Hualien, located at Tzu Chi University, Tzu Chi Hospital, a laundromat on Guomin 9th Street, and the south entrance of the youth residence in Sinchen Township.

花蓮新城鄉的青年住宅，大批民眾手裡拿著各式容器排隊，就是為了要體驗什麼是無包裝洗衣精補充站，開幕期間買2公升還送1公升，有打滿3劑疫苗再送1公升。

花蓮民眾姜小姐說：「因為每次買補充包，其實外面那個袋子，也是覺得就是用了就丟，就滿可惜的，有這個可以自備空瓶的活動，就是還滿不錯的。」

雖然無包裝洗衣精補充站在外縣市已推廣一陣子，但在花蓮這還是第一座，受限運輸成本以往廠商來花東設站意願低，但補充站設置之後，減少1個塑膠瓶就可減少碳排放量約0.34公斤。

花蓮縣環保局廢管科長張華砡表示：「業者其實在外縣市都是用租金來承購，但是因為我們花東這邊，因為運輸成本比較長，所以他們意願相對比較低，我們環保局就是當一個平台，我們幫他找合適的地點，用無租金的方式就補貼電費，每個月大概150到200元左右。」

第一批洗衣精補充站在花蓮有4個點，分別為慈濟大學與慈濟醫院、花蓮市國民九街洗衣店、新城鄉青年住宅南端出入口，洗衣精為台塑生醫所製作的環保標章產品，希望改變花蓮民眾的消費模式。