TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan is grappling with a mounting waste disposal crisis, as the Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) reports 32.19 million metric tons of waste generated in 2023. Incineration, though controversial, offers an eco-friendly solution with power generation and purified emissions.
Chen Ying-ta (陳英達), manager of the Bali Refuse Incineration Plant (八里垃圾焚化廠), acknowledges initial public protests but highlights that community coexistence is encouraged through compensation and facilities. However, Taiwan's aging incinerator infrastructure, with 10 of 28 plants operating for over two decades, requires regular maintenance.
The Bali plant's daily processing capacity has decreased from 1,350 to 1,200 metric tons due to increasingly complex waste composition requiring manual sorting. As of June 30, 2024, Taiwan had 732,000 metric tons of waste awaiting disposal, according to the MOENV.
Xinfeng Township (新豐) hosts Taiwan's largest waste pile, accumulating since 1990 and frequently experiencing methane fires, causing concern among residents. In response, Lin Zuo-xiang (林左祥), Deputy Director-general of the Environmental Management Administration (EMA, 環境管理署), announced an NT$1.2 billion investment plan over three years to aid local governments in managing temporary waste storage.
Environmental groups urge Taiwan to accelerate waste reduction and recycling policies, emphasizing source reduction as a key strategy to address the crisis.
