Some taxi drivers were printing out passenger receipts with used paper, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Passengers said the printing on these receipts was not clear enough to read and useless.

Shenzhen taxis started issuing printed receipts at the beginning of the month. The receipts contain the fare, travel time, journey distance and the license plate number of taxis.

The receipts were expected to help passengers retrieve their belongings left behind in taxis.

"Look, I have so many receipts left by the passengers in my taxi," said a taxi driver who declined to be named.

Passengers were reluctant to take their receipts when they got out, and the receipts were left trailing out of the meter, the report quoted the taxi driver as saying.

Only 20 percent of passengers took their receipts when they arrived at their destinations, the report said.

Many passengers did not bother to wait for the receipts to be printed out as it took more than 15 seconds to print out a complete receipt, said the taxi driver.

In addition, the cost of printed receipts had increased significantly, more than three times the cost of a pre-printed ones, said a taxi driver, surnamed Wu. He said they spent 70 yuan (US$8.47) to 90 yuan for the paper every month, while 20 to 30 yuan was enough for the pre-printed receipts. The ink would also increase their costs.

Passengers are encouraged to take receipts, which help monitor drivers as well as keep track of taxi companies taxable revenue.

Taxi companies said people could complain if they were given double-printed receipts.

Editor: Catherine