To foster a cleaner, more livable urban environment, the Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP) of the Taoyuan City Government conducted its year-round “Remove Illegal Ads and Win Great Rewards” campaign. The initiative encouraged residents to actively participate by offering a prize draw with attractive rewards. During the public draw held on the 9th at the Environmental Protection Administration Park, 38 winners were selected from 1,343 raffle tickets. Prizes included three 65-inch LCD TVs, five tablets, ten wireless vacuum cleaners, and twenty NT$5,000 gift vouchers, allowing participants to support environmental efforts while winning great prizes.
Participation in the campaign was straightforward: residents could tear down 2 kilograms of illegal ads (approximately 200 A4-sized ad sheets) and exchange them at district teams for a NT$50 equivalent voucher and one raffle ticket (drawn the following year). In 2024, 277 residents took part, collectively removing 2,686 kilograms (about 260,000 sheets) of illegal ads.
The list of winners and details on how to claim prizes were published on January 10 on the Taoyuan City Office of Environmental Management (TYOEM) official website (https://www.tyoem.gov.tw/). District teams have also been tasked with notifying winners by phone. Prize winners are advised to claim their prizes by March 31 by presenting the original raffle ticket and their ID at the TYOEM (No. 1 Fazhi Rd., Taoyuan Dist., Taoyuan City) during office hours. Prizes not claimed by the deadline will be considered forfeited.
TYDEP Director-General Chen Shih-Wei emphasized that public participation is key not only to reducing illegal advertisements but also to enhancing citizens' awareness of urban cleanliness and improving the city's aesthetic appeal. The “Tear Down Illegal Ads for Rewards” campaign, now in its eleventh year, has significantly reduced the number of illegal advertisements, yielding remarkable results. In addition to prosecuting violators under the Waste Disposal Act, the bureau collaborates with telecommunications providers to suspend services under the Telecommunications Act and works with the Land Administration Bureau to impose fines according to the Real Estate Brokerage Management Act. These measures aim to discourage unscrupulous businesses from illegally posting advertisements. In 2024, 550,537 illegal ads were removed, including 362 cases penalized under the Waste Disposal Act, 2,950 phone service suspensions under the Telecommunications Act, and 41 fines imposed under the Real Estate Broking Management Act. Director-General Chen expressed his gratitude to the Department of Land Administration and Chunghwa Telecom for their steadfast support in these efforts.
TYOEM Director Chang Shu-Hao called on citizens to join the effort to remove illegal ads and to avoid calling the phone numbers listed on them, rendering such ads ineffective. He also reminded the public that those with advertising needs should use legal channels, such as applying to hang street banners on lamp posts or paying for the legal placement of advertisements on public lamp posts or designated advertising billboards. Director Chang further urged operators against taking shortcuts and violating the law.