The results of this program include: (1)In response to global trends in waste management and current situation in Taiwan, this program made suggestions for amendments to the Management Regulations for the Import and Export of Industrial Waste, and kept watch on the development of waste paper and plastic after their management of importation was tightened. To better understand how waste wood, waste steel and waste metals (tungsten, magnesium and titanium), which are on China’s waste import ban list, are used domestically and to make management suggestions, this program performed on- site visits and telephone survey of the main importers of such wastes. Also, five expert meetings and three workshops were held to enhance stakeholders’ participation. (2)After amending Article 38 of the Waste Disposal Act, the export of hazardous waste is limited to the OECD member countries. To better understand how this amendment influenced Taiwan’s waste flow, research and analysis were made and found that, hazardous industrial waste (class E waste) were turned to be disposed of domestically, and its recycling rates went up as well. This program also assisted in reviewing application documents for the exportation of hazardous industrial waste. (3)Information and data regarding China’s waste import ban were compiled and analyzed. Domestic management suggestions were made through analyzing corresponding measures and management policies from Southeast Asian countries. (4)This program has fulfilled the requirement to participate in the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention by a delegation of 2 people in May, 2019. Key discussing points included plastic waste strengthening. As of 2021, only plastic waste which is clean and poses no risks to the environment can be excluded from the scope of waste to be controlled under the Basel Convention. Besides, information about electronic waste, plastic waste management, amendments to Annexes to the Basel Convention, Ban Amendment and issues concerning cooperation with the World Customs Organization was compiled for the reference of domestic management. This program continues the maintenance and update of the website, Taiwan’s Action to the Basel Convention.

Basel Convention, Industrial Waste Import and Export Management, Industrial Raw Material