The achievements of this project include four main parts as below.
1. Enhancement of the Mandatory Garbage Sorting (MGS) Policy
(1)We provided guidance to 13 cities and counties that had not reached the average recycling rate in 2009. In addition, we suggested acceptable recycling rates and kitchen waste retrieval rates for the various counties and cities to pursue in the future.
(2)Regarding the recyclable flow investigation, 53 recyclers who bought recyclables from local governments were interviewed on-site for the further material flow analysis.
(3)Two conferences for increasing communications in waste management related issues between parties across the Taiwan Straits as well as Taiwan EPA and local governments were held.
2. Quantification of municipal waste recycling performance
(1)Based on the comparison of the latest statistic information of municipal solid waste （MSW）between the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development（OECD）countries and Taiwan, the generation amount of MSW in Taiwan is less than that in OECD countries. Also the recycling rate of municipal waste in Taiwan keeps growing close to the OECD countries.
(2)This project collected relevant literatures and reviewed the papers on the relations between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and waste recycling. We quoted the GHG reduction factors from both of the US EPA’s life cycle models and Japanese research papers. Then, we roughly estimated GHG reduction derived from local government recycling reports of household appliances including TV, refrigerators, wash machines and air conditioners in Taiwan.
3. Improvement of the e-waste recycling system
(1)For promoting the Extended Producer Responsibility （EPR） recycling system for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment（WEEE）in Taiwan, we finalized the preparation of the announcement of Due-Recycled Items of nine product items. Because of the hazardous substance contained in most of parts, we recommended that radios/recorders, VCD/DVD players, dehumidifiers, telephones and fax machines have higher priorities for take-back and recycling. Three consultation meetings with producers were held.
(2)We collected and compiled the implementation measures and latest information of the Directive of Eco-design Requirements of Energy-related Products (ErP) and the directive of Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) in EU and other developed countries. Then, we drafted the criteria, product items and implementation concerns for Taiwan RoHS.
4. Improvement of the recycling system in Taiwan
(1) In order to improve recycling enterprises that couldn’t receive a standardized invoice, we suggested changing the added value tax to retail sales tax on recycling enterprises, or raising the quota for invoice exemption.
(2)We investigated 1,648 products with the recycling sign mislabeled from distribution channels. The mislabeling rate was 13%. We assisted enterprises to hopefully help reducing the mislabeling rate by 34% after the first half of 2011. Furthermore, after we studied labeling information of product recycling, we suggested hazardous materials should be described on the manual or websites. It is also necessary to compile dismantling handbooks. Products that mixed by biomass and traditional plastics should be marked with material ratios to avoid disturbance in recycling operations.
(3) For the drop of waste lubricants from the Due-Recycled Waste List, we drafted regulations about disposal, treatment and recycling of waste lubricants. We surveyed the impacts for enterprises after lubricant was de-listed. The results showed 33.4% of the enterprises would receive impacts because of the difficulty for the former recycling treatment plants, without necessary qualification, to get lubricants from businesses.
(4) This project also helped administrative work for integrating the Waste Disposal Act and Resource Recycling Act. It included information compilation, impact assessment, sex impact assessment and responses to controversial issues.
