In an effort to avoid African Swine Fever, when Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-Shan took office in 2018, she initiated a ban on feeding pigs with food waste, and has been gradually promoting more diverse food waste removal outlets. To achieve SDGs 11 and 12 and make food waste a part of the circular economy, Magistrate Chang visited the Beixi Community Activity Center in Huwei Township today (6/14). The organic crops produced there using food waste as compost not only promote local farming, but also create a circular economy.
Households in Yunlin County produce approximately 40-45 tons of food waste daily. To allow for smooth food waste removal, Yunlin County continues to promote the sorting of raw and cooked food waste. After food waste is processed via dehydration equipment, it is transferred to the Nan Ya Plastics Corporation composting plant where it is converted into organic fertilizer, provided free of charge to local communities, agencies, and schools. Anyone can apply to receive it through their local township offices or farmers' associations. Aside from producing organic materials using food waste, Yunlin County Kouhu Township Office also promotes the use of black soldier flies to dispose of food waste. These flies are an eco-friendly insect, and their larvae can digest various types of food waste, converting it into manure, which acts as a good natural soil improvement material.
As a means to promote garbage reduction at the source, the County Government took the lead in promoting the nationwide subsidy policy to encourage households to purchase food processors in 2022. Not only does this reduce food waste at source, it also keeps homes hygienic and reduces bad odor. The policy was well received by the public. The first stage subsidy of NT$1 million has been applied for, granting funds to a total of 485 households, while the second phase of the grant of NT$500,000 is expected to subsidize 230 households. This is estimated to reduce the amount of food waste at its source by about 500 tons per year.
Yunlin County Magistrate Chang thanked Nan Ya Plastics Corporation for investing NT$330 million in building a high-efficiency composting plant, in a bid to improve the quality of compost and give back to the people. County Magistrate Chang said that people must work hard together to prevent African Swine Fever and stay healthy. Meat or raw pork from unknown sources should not be thrown away in food waste buckets. If roadside food waste buckets are discovered or pig farms are suspected of illegally using food waste, they should be reported to the Environmental Protection Bureau (0800-066666).
