The main objectives of this project were to solve the problems of farmers burning agricultural waste in open space as well as those pertaining to wood waste removal in Pingtung County. The authors of this project have spared no effort in promoting waste removal and control operations and measures in an attempt to teach farmers how to dispose of agricultural waste correctly and reuse wood waste, eliminating the problem of wood resource waste and allowing wood waste to be disposed of without burning, ensuring favorable air quality.
The Circular Economy Project to Reduce the Burning of Agricultural Waste in Pingtung County, which began from Jul. 18 to Dec. 31, 2018, included establishing five centralized temporary waste disposal sites. On Sept. 14, 2018, departments responsible for various fields (e.g., the Pingtung County Department of Education and the Forest Conservation and Management Administration) were invited to convene a work-related meeting, presenting and promoting wood waste removal plans and assisting various departments in delivering wood waste to centralized sites or large-scale crushing plants in Fangliao to convert it into refuse-derived fuel (RDF). As of Dec. 16, 2018, a total of 3,062 tons of wood waste had been removed. In addition to wood waste removal, this project covered the following endeavors: (1) providing diversified waste management methods: teach farmers diversified methods for handling other types of agricultural waste, including recycling and reusing agricultural films and plowing and burying straw. These methods were introduced to 153.23 ha of farmland; and (2) building the Nanzhou Waste Handling Zone: promote zero open-air burning in the zone. To ensure the successful promotion of waste handling technology in the said zone and reach a consensus among farmers, on Oct. 22, 2018, this project invited the local Farmers’ Association and agricultural production and marketing groups in Nanzhou Township, Pingtung to participate in a waste handling coordination meeting, explaining the philosophies and objectives of the zone and how technology can be used to properly handle agricultural waste. The methods and technology were promoted on 112.74 ha of farmland. By the end of the project period, a total of 265.23 ha of farmland adopted the methods and technology, successfully diminishing the following pollutant emissions: TSP: 31.79 (tons), PM10: 31.74 (tons), SOX: 0.25 (tons), NOx: 12.67 (tons), CO: 150.08 (tons), THC: 36.95 (tons), NMHC: 27.64 (tons), and PM2.5: 28.61 (tons).
Concerning project-related marketing and promotion, six promotional seminars were held; 2,000 fliers, posters, or publicity items on proper waste handling and disposal were made; a public message recorded by the county magistrate was broadcasted on KISS Radio during the main season of open-air burning to remind people not to engage in open-air burning; and recycling trucks in 17 townships joined the project team and scrolling text was displayed on public channels to broadcast related information. Additionally, to better inform the public of proper waste handling policies promoted by the Environmental Protection Bureau, a publicity video was filmed and played on electronic media to educate the public about the handling of agricultural waste.
To ensure that the public perceives the wood waste removal and handling policies formulated by the Pingtung County as effective, this project commissioned the National Sun Yat-sen University to create a satisfaction survey. In addition, the changes in PM2.5 and dioxin levels in the area prior to and after establishing the Nanzhou Waste Handling Zone were measured to provide actual data that could be used to inform the public of the benefits of air quality improvement.
The 3,000 tons of wood waste collected by this project were made into RDF to achieve the goal of wood waste reuse and subsequently, to contribute to circular economy. A total of 3,000 tons of wood waste can produce approximately 2,400 tons of biomass fuel rods. Given the fact that one ton of biomass fuel rods can be sold for NT$2,500, and that the cost of producing one ton of fuel rods is NT$1,800, 3,000 tons of wood waste can generate a profit of $1,680,000. The use of biomass fuel by factory boilers also diminishes pollution emissions. Regarding biomass power generation via the gasifier method in the future, the cost of handling 3,000 tons of wood waste is approximately NT$10,980,400 (which includes a removal cost of NT$3,980,400 and a cost of $7,000,000 for building wood waste crushing equipment and gasifiers, planning and building gasifier plants, and hiring operating personnel). The revenue that will be generated from said 3,000 tons of wood waste is NT$117,250,000 (from the sales of electricity and by-products) which, minus an annual gasification cost of NT$2,400,000 (i.e., the gasification costs amortized over 3 years) and a removal cost of 3,980,400, produces a profit of NT$5,344,600. Concurrently, the said change can attract interested biomass energy plants, increasing the demand for wood waste and making it a valuable item. By purchasing agricultural waste using business models, the Pingtung County can increase its production capacity to benefit farmers, elevating the overall value of the agricultural and green energy industries.
