The 2025 environmental clean-up assessment for Yunlin County villages is now officially underway. The on-site assessment for the first round of local clean-up efforts has now been completed. In the city/township division, first place went to Tuku Township, second place went to Dabi Township, and third place went to Gukeng Township. For the village assessment, Beiping Village in Tuku Township received a High Distinction; Shuipu Village in Beigang Township received a Distinction; and Sanjie Village in Dabi Township received a Merit.

The environmental clean-up assessment is a long-running event in Yunlin County that is taken very seriously at the city, township, and village level. It has become an important basis for the promotion of environmental improvements. For each assessment, one location is nominated by each town hall, and one village is nominated by the Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) of Yunlin County. A professional assessment team made up of experts and academics then visits high-traffic areas to assess their performance on clutter, breeding grounds for disease vectors, dog waste, cigarette butts, betel nut dregs, and illegal advertising. The local cleaning team, village chief, and community directors also take part to chat with the judges and exchange recommendations for improvement.

Sources of infectious vectors were once again targeted for extra penalties this year. Clutter was also added as a high-priority item for villages to strengthen the improvement and tracking of problem areas. Results from the first assessment showed that most villages made a determined effort to clean up their environment. Volunteers were also mobilized to clean up high-risk locations, revitalize vacant spaces, build leisure and landscaped spaces, and improve the quality of life. Certain regions did have environmental blind spots and locations that tested positive for disease vectors such as untreated vessels containing stagnant water, waste tires that have not been drilled through, and miscellaneous clutter. Suggestions for improvement were issued by the assessment team on the spot to ensure that these problems won’t happen again.

EPB Director Qiao-Wei Zhang said that the assessments not only served as the basis to reward outstanding villages but also represented an opportunity for identifying and correcting issues. A total of four rounds will be conducted in 2025 with three outstanding villages selected from each round. Material rewards and targeted inspections will hopefully inspire more villages to participate in routine clean-ups and community development initiatives. The goal of total participation and co-building of a clean, fresh and habitable homeland can then be gradually realized. Director Zhang also called upon all villages to continue keeping an eye out for vessels that may contain stagnant water, or the dumping of old furniture and waste. Source management should be strengthened to prevent the breeding of mosquito vectors. She also encouraged citizens to support the environmental clean-up day each month and work together to build a clean, neat, and tidy communal living space.