公共政策網路參與平臺

提議內容或建議事項

請願書介紹 (Introduction of petition)

環境議題在台灣一直都是一個被重視的問題。其中一個主要環境汙染來源便是一次性塑膠餐具的使用，為了減少大眾對於這種難以自然降解的物品之使用，STay ECO致力於讓台灣的學生們也能夠加入保護環境的活動。我們的創辦人蔡智婷和STay ECO團員們希望能透過公共請願的方式，讓學生族群有機會挑起環境保護的一根大樑。透過減少台灣校園環境中所使用的一次性塑膠餐具，來解決愈發嚴重的環境問題。我們認為，只需要小小的改變，便可以對世界帶來莫大的影響，因此我們需要你們及台灣政府的支持。

The environmental situation in Taiwan has long been a concern. One of the major causes of the environmental degradation is the usage of disposable plastic utensils. To combat the excessive usage of items that are difficult to decompose and harmful to nature, STay ECO works to let students in Taiwan participate in environmental protection activities. Our founder Ting Tsai and fellow members of STay ECO wish to initiate a petition that offers students the opportunity to take the responsibility to protect our land. Specifically, we hope to mitigate our environmental situation by reducing disposable plastic utensils in school campuses in Taiwan. As part of our goal, we hope to make small changes into big impacts with the support of our government.

資源回收 (Recycling)

資源回收是一極為基本卻十分重要的動作來保留一個完好的環境給後代，因此教導年輕世代知道此舉的重要性亦為重要。雖然大部分的學校都有實行資源回收，但一部分的學生仍然不知道資源回收的原因及方式，這便是我們提出以下解決方案的原

因：

Recycling is an important and essential action that can allow us to create a better environment for future generations. People need to be educated on recycling and its importance from a young age. However, many students are still not fully aware of how to recycle, as well as its significance. That’s why we propose solutions that can improve school environments such as:

一，舉辦班際競賽，此舉能夠有效鼓勵學生進行資源回收，並有立竿見影的成效。

One method to encourage and motivate recycling in schools is to introduce class competitions for students to actively participate in. This would allow effective actions to be taken in a short period of time to help improve the status quo of our environment.

二，成立環保議題相關的學生議會，來增進學生的環保認知，並將眾多還環境保育相關議題帶入學生生活之中。除了讓學校與學生群體皆能對此類議題有完整認知，並提供學生增進領導能力的機會。

There should be a student run committee in schools to raise awareness on various topics relating to the environment as essential to school life. This committee would then serve as a reliable foundation to keep the school and students informed and also provide students with opportunities to improve our environment together.

三、鼓勵老師確保學生都有完備的環保意識，例如介紹與環境議題相關極具教育意義的演講。

Teachers should also be encouraged to ensure that students are well aware of recycling, such as by introducing speakers who make meaningful speeches about the related topics and their careers since this may be very beneficial to the students.

四、製作宣傳海報製作宣傳海報來推廣資源回收的正確方式，以多元媒材，例如:藝術創作、影片等模式來促進學生對於環保的熱誠。學校也可以透過舉辦藝術比賽，在推廣藝術知能的同時增進環境意識。

There should also be posters, engaging videos, and artwork that promote environmental awareness and enable students to express themselves in the work that they do. They may also help with raising awareness of the importance of recycling so that more students will know how to recycle properly. School art competitions can also promote the use of artistic talents and abilities to raise awareness about the environment.

五、政府跟學校可以舉辦抽獎提升參與率-- 學生們期待的抽獎活動可以消去很多人對廢棄物和垃圾消極的態度，所以藉由跟廢棄物再利用有關的抽獎活動，師生都可以縮短他們跟這話題的距離。

In addition, raffles or giveaways could be conducted at governmental and school events. These activities can effectively get people to participate by motivating them with awards.

六、標準化的處理模式對需長期環境政策至關重要，因次我們應標準化對於垃圾桶(回收桶)的樣式、圖案和顏色，使學生能夠輕易地分辨資源回收的分類。舉例來說紙類回收可以放在綠色的垃圾桶，玻璃可以放在灰色的。不同的垃圾桶也可以用不同的標記或圖案去做區分。這樣可以節省很大的時間跟人力。

Finally, it is important to use the same bins and symbols for each type of trash across campus so that students can easily sort them. For example, recycled paper could be placed in green bins while recycled glass could be placed in gray ones. These different bins may also be distinguished by visual symbols. This would help people with identifying the different types of trash and make it less time-consuming for the recycling station with sorting out different types of trash.

一次性餐具對環境的危害以及我們如何解決  (The environmental threat of single-use utensils and how we could resolve it)

「依統計資料顯示，國內外食人口每天約一七七零萬人次，平均每餐約六百萬人次，免洗餐具之 使用量每年約五•九萬噸，其中塑膠類（含保麗龍）免洗餐具之使用量每年約四•三萬 噸」(行政院主計處)。台灣每年的塑膠餐具使用量非常可觀，台灣行政院主計處的免洗餐具統計包括但不限於塑膠餐具，但保麗龍和紙製餐具之塑膠膜都屬於環境無法消化的材質之一，因此本文將統一稱之為免洗餐具並統一討論。

According to the Accounting and Accounting Office of the Executive Yuan, there are about “17.7 million people eating outside from restaurants every day, 6 million people eating out per meal, and 50,000 to 90,000 tons of disposable utensils being emitted per year.” (Accounting and Accounting Office, Executive Yuan). The annual consumption of plastic utensils in Taiwan is huge. The statistics of disposable utensils gathered by the Accounting Office of the Taiwan Executive Yuan include but are not limited to plastic utensils. Because the plastic film of styrofoam and paper utensils is one of the materials that cannot be digested by the environment, they are just single-use utensils.

免洗餐具造成最嚴重的問題便是海洋生態的破壞。每年，大量未妥善處理的免洗餐具排入河川大海，垃圾沿著河川沿路摩擦碰撞、甚至沿路散佈堆積。塑膠再沖刷也無法被分解，它們只會由大片塑膠破碎成小片塑膠，最終成為極難清除的塑膠微粒，進入海洋食物鏈，最終回到人類身上。

The most serious problem caused by disposable utensils is the destruction of marine ecology. Every year, a large amount of disposable utensils that are not properly disposed flows into the rivers and the sea. The garbage would hit against the river banks as it makes its way to the sea, causing damage. Plastics cannot be decomposed. They will only disintegrate  from large pieces into small molecules, and eventually become particles that are so small that they are extremely difficult to remove. As they enter the marine food chain, they return back to humans when we eat fish.

當塑膠垃圾沿著河川沖入大海時，將有大量垃圾堆積於河海交界處----紅樹林。紅樹林有淨化水質、穩固海岸線、提供生物棲地等多種用途，因此其生態價值極高。然而近年來台灣紅樹林生態係受到嚴重汙染，大量塑膠垃圾和免洗餐具堆積於紅樹林泥灘上，受到汙染的紅樹林發出惡臭並嚴重影響整個生態系。紅樹林作為河海交界處，有著有著不可忽視的重要性，因此免洗餐具的問題也是當前必須注意之議題。

When plastic waste flows into the sea, large amounts of waste will accumulate in the mangrove forest, which is where the river meets the sea. Mangroves have a high ecological value. It purifies water, stabilizes coastlines, and provides biological habitats. However, in recent years, Taiwan’s mangrove ecosystem has been seriously polluted by the large amount of plastic waste and disposable utensils accumulated on the mangrove mudflat. The polluted mangroves emit a stench and badly affect the entire ecosystem. Mangroves have an important position that cannot be ignored or replaced. Therefore, this is another reason why the issue of disposable utensils is a serious issue that must require attention.

免洗餐具作為塑膠垃圾之一，回收時經常被忽視，並且沒有妥善的處理。以紙餐具為例，雖然有一回收分類為「紙餐具」，但是很多場所的回收分類並沒有分到這個種類，無論之後是直接當做一般垃圾處理掉或者當做紙類回收，最終都有可能被送到焚化爐焚燒處理，而焚燒塑膠即會造成嚴重空氣汙染。燃燒塑膠可能產生戴奧辛和極細小之塑膠微粒，漂浮於空氣中，研究表明，2019年倫敦市民平均每日吸入高達五萬顆塑膠微粒，而2022年三月，根據英國《衛報》報導，科學家首次在人類血液中發現塑膠。塑膠微粒可以由飲用或食用、甚至於吸入體內，而進入肺部和血液中的塑膠微粒造成的危害更是我們無法想像的。

Disposable utensils are often neglected during recycling and are not properly disposed of. Taking paper utensils as an example, although there is a recycling classification as “paper utensils,” it is still not commonly labeled as recyclable. Whether it is directly disposed of as general garbage or recycled as paper, it may eventually be sent to the incinerator, which causes serious air pollution. Burning plastic may produce dioxin and very tiny plastic particles, which float in the air. In 2019, a research shows, London residents inhaled up to 50,000 plastic particles every day on average. The Guardian reported in March 2022 that scientists found Plastic in human blood for the first time. Plastic particles can be drunk, eaten, or even inhaled. This is critical since the harm caused by plastic particles entering the lungs and blood is severe.

塑膠微粒是現代環境破壞的最大元兇之一，而製造它的途徑有非常多，但是台灣身為免洗餐具使用大戶且近年來淨灘廢棄物時常入圍前十名，必須開始嚴格審視免洗餐具的規範和使用。

Microplastics are one of the biggest enemies of modern environmental damage, and there are many ways plastic can be produced. Taiwan has a large use of disposable tableware. In recent years beach cleaning waste has been up on the list. Therefore we must start to strictly examine disposable tableware specification and use.

 

利益與影響

1 免洗餐具對環境的引響 (Harms of disposing plastic utensils in natural environments)
   a. 海洋生態系破壞 (Polluting the ocean and involved ecosystems)
   b. 紅樹林汙染 (Polluting the mangroves and related habitats
   c. 空氣汙染像是如 NOx 和 VOCs 之類的懸浮粒子 (Increase of air pollutants such as but not limited to particulate matter, NOx, and VOCs)
   d. 環境中將充斥塑膠微粒 (Fill the environment with microplastic particles that are harmful towards the human body)

2. 解決辦法 (Solutions)
    a. 管制餐廳提供環保餐具並嚴格執行 (Request cafeterias to provide reusable utensils)
    b. 學校等公共場所細分資源回收分類 (Clearly mark the recycle bins in schools and public places)
    c. 學校宣導學生環保觀念 (Lecture about environmental friendly concepts in schools)
    d. 向民眾宣導免洗餐具的回收方法 (Raise public awareness of recycling plastic waste and single-use utensils)
    e. 鼓勵淨灘和紅樹林志工活動 (Encourage beach cleaning and other environment activities)

環境問題及垃圾問題皆為台灣校園常存的問題，我們希望透過以下的方式來改善這些問題。

Environmental and trash issues are still ongoing in the campuses around Taiwan, and we wish to change that.

教育學生環境保育及資源回收的重要性。很多時候問題總是諸於不了解，因此在讓大家能夠做出實際行動之前，充足的知識是基本，才不會想幫忙卻弄巧成拙。

It is important to educate students about the environmental problems and recycling. Problems often result from a lack of knowledge. Therefore, it is important for people to learn more about the environmental problems prior to taking action environmentally to prevent people from doing a disservice.

如果能夠深植環保意識在每一位學生心中，便有機會能夠影響他的家庭，甚至對未來的工作環境也能有正面的影響。透過此舉，學校也能變得更加乾淨舒適並且更適合學習的環境。

The benefits for students recycling properly are significant. It is likely for the students to take their recycling and eco-friendly spirit back home or even to the future – their workplace! Schools will therefore become cleaner and more comfortable places to learn.

學校應該要標明或增加垃圾桶(回收桶) 在垃圾問題尤其嚴重的區域與總體校園區域。目前有些校園的垃圾桶可能一個星期只有清潔一次造成學生沒有垃圾筒倒垃圾，所以為了讓環境更衛生和乾淨，人們應該設置更多的垃圾桶或者更頻繁的清理垃圾桶。

Schools should either add more bins or clean the bins more regularly in areas that are more heavily concentrated with garbage. Currently, there are not enough bins for students to discard their waste because the trash is only cleaned out once per week. Therefore, to improve the sanitation and reduce the costs of cleaning the areas with trash discarded on the floor, people should either place more trash bins or, more preferably, clean the trash bins more often.

結論 (Conclusion)

為了改善校園環境和推廣永續發展，我們應該要以國家為單位做出行動。這不僅僅會讓環境跟乾淨，也會增加我們的生活和教育品質，乾淨的環境也可以讓學生的在校園更舒適不管是身體還是心靈。我們誠摯地邀請您為這份請願書投下寶貴的一票。感謝您！

To improve the school environments in Taiwan and promote sustainability, we should take action as a country together. This would also help improve the quality of our education and living status because cleanliness would help maintain the physical health and mental well-being of our students. Therefore, we would like you to consider voting for this petition. Thank you very much!