Changhua County's 'Recycle for Gifts' event faces criticism over high power bank exchange rate

Changhua County's Environmental Protection Bureau has launched its "Recycle for Gifts" campaign for August, featuring batteries, power banks, and pressurized containers as the main recyclable items. The initiative aims to encourage residents to properly dispose of potentially hazardous waste.

Under the program, residents can earn points by bringing in specific items: five pressurized containers or one power bank earns five points, while 0.5 kilograms of used batteries earns five points. These points can then be redeemed for gifts, with 5 points for a bar of soap, 10 points for a cooling towel, and 30 points for a bottle of dish soap.

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Power bank recycling involves a more complex process for recyclers, and the recycling price is similar to that of regular batteries. However, for the safety of our sanitation workers, we have specifically separated it for exchange this time to cultivate the public's good recycling habits!

However, the exchange rate for power banks has sparked public debate. Some residents find it difficult to collect six power banks to exchange for a single bottle of dish soap, deeming the threshold too high. Similarly, 30 pressurized containers are needed for the same reward. The easiest redemption option appears to be exchanging 3 kilograms of used batteries for a bottle of dish soap.

The Environmental Protection Bureau explained that power banks require a more complex recycling process due to their lithium batteries and plastic casings. They must be discharged before recycling for safety reasons, a procedure more involved than that for regular batteries. Despite similar recycling costs, the bureau introduced this specific exchange to foster good recycling habits and ensure safety, particularly by advising residents to tape the charging ports of power banks before recycling to prevent accidents.

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