Taipei City Garbage Truck Schedule

Taipei City has no street-side trash cans and no fixed garbage drop-off points. You wait for the garbage truck, then carry your trash down and toss it in yourself.

• Trucks usually come from late afternoon into the evening and only stop a few minutes at each spot, so be out by the street with your trash early.
• Hear music? The truck is almost here — usually “Für Elise” or “A Maiden's Prayer.”
• If you live in an apartment building, many buildings collect trash through the management office. Ask your building manager first.

General waste is only collected in Taipei City's official trash bags, sold at convenience stores and supermarkets. If you use a regular plastic bag, the cleaning crew won't take it.

Sort your trash:

• General waste: put it in an official trash bag and toss it in the garbage truck.
• Recycling: PET bottles, cans, glass bottles, paper and plastic containers. Give them a quick rinse and hand them to the recycling truck that follows behind. No official bag needed.
• Food waste: split into raw food waste (fruit peels, veggie scraps) and cooked food waste (leftovers). Pour them separately into the bins on the truck. No official bag needed.

Missed it? Open the map and tap “Near me” to see if another truck nearby is coming later. Otherwise, wait for the next pickup day.

Large furniture and old appliances can't just be thrown out. Call the 1999 citizen hotline or contact your local cleaning team to book a pickup.

Follow the Taipei City cleaning team's notices for the official rules.