Garbage collection vehicles in Taiwan play classical music and provide a chance for residents to catch up.
Taiwan's Musical Garbage Trucks: A Unique Waste Management Tradition
In Taiwan, the sound of Beethoven's "Fur Elise" and Tekla Badarzewska-Baranowska's "Maiden's Prayer" serves as a musical signal for residents to bring out their garbage, a practice that has been common since the 1960s. This unique tradition has transformed a mundane activity into a recognizable daily routine and even a social event for elderly residents.
The use of "Fur Elise" can be traced back to Taiwan importing German garbage trucks pre-programmed with this tune, making it the default musical signal. The origin of "Maiden's Prayer" in the repertoire, however, remains unclear.
The musical approach helps structure daily trash disposal, with residents associating the tunes immediately with the garbage trucks' arrival. Although some find this fixed timing inconvenient, many appreciate the cultural and community function it fulfills.
Taiwan's waste management system has undergone significant improvements over the past 30 years. This transformation was necessary due to an economic boom that led to an explosion of garbage, with little recycling and overflowing landfills, causing air and ground pollution.
The improvements in waste management have resulted in cleaner streets. Residents are required to buy government-approved blue plastic bags for their general waste to encourage recycling. These bags are used to sort and compact the rubbish, which is then tossed into the trucks when they approach.
The trucks, imported from Germany, are pre-programmed with "Fur Elise." The trucks operate five days a week, usually in the late afternoon and evening. For some elderly residents, taking out the trash has become a social event and an opportunity to chat with neighbors.
The recycling rate in the city has surged to nearly 67 percent, from 2 percent in 2000. Meanwhile, the amount of garbage sent for incineration has fallen by two-thirds. The Department of Environmental Protection oversees the operation of the musical garbage trucks.
One local resident, Yang Xiu-ying, earns a monthly income by helping her neighbors dispose of their garbage. This community-oriented approach has become a distinctive Taiwanese custom.
[1] Taipei Times, "Garbage trucks play classical music to alert residents," 2019. [2] BBC News, "Taiwan's musical garbage trucks," 2008.
- The unique Taiwanese waste management tradition, accompanied by classical music, has extended its influence even to areas such as the environment, with residents using government-approved blue plastic bags for their general waste to promote recycling.
- As a result of the refinement of the waste management system, fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden industries can thrive in a cleaner urban setting, offering residents a more enjoyable lifestyle amid the beauty of Taiwan's streets.
