this is not entirely a culture thing. It is also an education thing...

just 20 or so years ago, Taiwan was very much like U.S, trash thrown everywhere, on the ground and such. And to be fair, there are still people who do these crappy thing, but it is so much better now.

I remember walking in the local market with litters on the side walk back when I was a kid. And I don't see them as much anymore just last month I went back to visit.

It might take time, but once you teach a generation, they will set example for the next, and it will become the norm.