Discover Formosa - Beautiful Island

To many new Gold Card holders arriving in Taiwan, the initial surprise often doesn’t stem from cultural differences, language barriers, or traffic chaos. Instead, it occurs in the toilets. You step into a modern restroom at a Taipei shopping mall or hotel, where everything appears pristine and cutting-edge. The toilet seat is heated, and you might even find buttons for music or spray pressure. Then you catch sight of a small wastebasket positioned beside every toilet. You quickly discover that it's not for discarded tissues or other rubbish; it’s intended for USED toilet paper!!

When Gold Card holders land in Taiwan, those from countries with good sewage or toilet system may naturally anticipate a realm filled with technology, convenience, and efficiency. After all, this is the island that drives the global digital landscape, home to TSMC, where engineers craft chips so tiny they are invisible to the naked eye. Yet, after a trip to the bathroom, they are brought back to reality — quite literally.

Next to nearly every toilet, from rural homes to luxurious hotels, sits a modest wastepaper basket. It seems innocuous until you understand its purpose: used toilet paper. Indeed, even in five-star establishments, you aren’t always expected to flush it. Instead, you fold it, place it in the bin, close the lid, and hope for the best.

Why is this the case? Taiwan’s sewage system struggles with flushed paper. Many buildings have narrow or poorly connected pipes, and no one wants to risk a clog. By nature, Taiwanese people are considerate, often choosing not to “cause trouble,” thus retaining this old habit. Consequently, even structures with perfectly adequate sewage systems remain underutilized because residents cling to the belief that the bin is the safer option.

However, there’s a catch: that bin requires daily emptying. Throughout Taiwan, garbage trucks cruise the streets, playing cheerful melodies as residents emerge to dispose of their bags. Among those are the infamous toilet paper bags, dutifully carried down from apartments all across the city. On ordinary days, this ritual unfolds smoothly. But when a typhoon strikes and rubbish collection halts, the situation shifts dramatically. With rain pouring and everyone indoors, the bins fill up quickly. By day three, the entire building can resemble a biological hazard.

It presents a peculiar paradox. Taiwan semicon can etch 2nm circuits smaller than a virus, yet it struggles to flush toilet paper. Some may view it as tradition, while others label it as madness. Perhaps it’s a bit of both.

So, when you arrive in Taiwan, keep this small but unforgettable truth in mind: the people are warm, the food is delicious, the technology is advanced, and the toilets offer a lesson in humility. In the land of 2-nanometer chips, the paper finds its place in the bin. Indeed, there are instances when the entire building can emit an exceedingly unpleasant sewage type odor if daily rubbish collection is halted due to weather conditions or typhoons, leading to a buildup of used toilet paper in your apartment.

Regrettably, this is one area that no one will be able to assist you, and you must accept it. Period. Wishing you the best of luck for your time in the restroom!