HPA touts e-cigarette collection rate
By Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNA
E-cigarettes collected at anonymous disposal points had reached 633kg since the scheme began on Sept. 8, equivalent to about 12,660 devices based on an average weight of 50g each, the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) said yesterday.
The six special municipalities accounted for about 70 percent of the total, while northern and central Taiwan combined accounted for 80 percent, the agency said.
On Sept. 8, the HPA set up 431 e-cigarette collection spots nationwide for people to anonymously dispose of e-cigarettes.
An e-cigarette collection box is pictured at the Neihu District Health Service Center in Taipei on Sept. 8.
Photo: CNA
It added one more the following day.
The Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, supply, display, advertisement and use of e-cigarettes.
The disposal boxes are positioned mainly at local health departments, health bureaus and public health centers.
The agency’s proposal to add “possession” to the list of e-cigarette prohibitions was passed by the Executive Yuan on June 25 and has been sent to the legislature for review, HPA Tobacco Control Division Director Lo Su-ying (羅素英) said.
Once it takes effect, there would be a one-month grace period in which the devices would be confiscated, but no fines would be issued. After the grace period, people found with the devices would face a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$100,000, as well as confiscation of the device, the HPA said.
Public support for the collection scheme was evident, HPA Deputy Director-General Lin Li-ju (林莉茹) said, adding that it would continue to provide the service and encourage people to properly dispose of their devices.
The program is expected to continue until one month after the revisions to the act take effect, with additional locations to be considered based on local demand, Lin said.
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