The 2022 home food processor subsidy press conference was held today (1/4). In 2019, Yunlin County took the lead in banning the feeding of pigs with food waste. In 2022, the county became the first in Taiwan to introduce a home food processor subsidy program which is expected to provide subsidies for 300 home food processors. If each household produces 2kg of food waste per day, approximately 219 metric tons of food waste can be reduced per year, making an impact in both food waste reduction and resource recycling and recovery.

　According to garbage composition analysis conducted by the EPA, 30% of waste in incinerators is food waste. This shows that food waste is not properly sorted, so not only is the amount of garbage increased, but mosquitoes breed easily and odors are produced that further affect environmental hygiene. The Environmental Protection Bureau said that cooking only the amount you eat and reducing food waste at the source are two ways to be kinder to the environment. People should properly sort their food waste and hand them to the cleaning squadron for recycling. If people find sorting garbage a hassle, they can purchase a food processor. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Bureau created a budget of NTD 1 million for food processor subsidies. It is hoped that people will be able to either sort their food waste or process it themselves at the source, allowing a reduction in manpower for handling food waste, and reducing the amount of garbage. Meanwhile, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation continues to help the County turn food waste into organic fertilizer that can be returned to the environment. This helps recycling and reuse of food waste and helps reduce the burden on garbage disposal. By the end of December 2021, a total of 4,050.6 metric tons of organic fertilizer had been produced, provided free of charge to local communities, institutions, schools and the public.

　Magistrate Chang urged people to be “food wise”, and reminded them that food that people cannot finish can be shared with those in need. Also, food waste can be more than just garbage, as its nutritive properties can be put to good use as organic fertilizer for crops. Waste reduction is an issue of environmental sustainability. For Yunlin County, it has been an ongoing task. We take a proactive approach to promote diverse and versatile reduction measures in the hope that people will change their consumption and eating habits, while implementing plastic reduction and food conservation policies in daily life. The provision of subsidies for food processors also allows people to make simple organic compost at home, turning food waste into black gold. By doing this, we hope to demonstrate our dedication to waste reduction.

(2022 home food processor grant program can be downloaded at: https://reurl.cc/Dd9xy5)