Taiwan went from being nicknamed “Trash Island” to becoming the world’s premier supplier of PET recycled plastic. What did it take to get there? We walk through Taiwan’s unique approach to getting plastic beverage bottles from the hands of consumers and to plastic recycling plants - with a bit of education, love for the environment, and a few key government incentives.

Guests:

Brenda Haitema, Head of Operations at First Mile

Tina Hong, Asia Sales and Operation Manager at Fuze Biotech

Gaby Liu, Impact Manager of First Mile

Further Listening and Reading:

99% Invisible: Separation Anxiety (Episode 213) (podcast episode)

Waste Not, Why Not: How Taiwan solved waste (podcast season)

Plastisphere by Anja Krieger (podcast)

How Taiwan Has Achieved One of the Highest Recycling Rates in the World: Smithsonian Magazine 

Production credits:

Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long 

Associate producer:  YuFei Wu

Sound Engineer:  Chris Wood

Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin