The aim of the project is to assist Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in reduction of volatile organic compound (VOC) related to commodity. This project includes 9 tasks: (1)Collect VOC information (2)Survey NGO’s cognition of VOC (3)Collect local government’s works on the reduction of burning in religious ceremony (4)Inventory the producing and burning amount of the joss paper (5)Rank the priority for major commodity VOC reduction (6)Prepare media means for VOC reduction propaganda (7)Participate in events of major environmental activity and to advocate VOC reduction in the events (8)Host the VOC reduction promoting meeting (9) Host a forum for the dialogue between religious and environmental concern groups The work of the project can be abstracted as follows: (1) Collect VOC information We collected the literatures regarding to the characteristics and hazards of VOC from many investigations, especially from paints, religious ceremonies and commodity related VOC emissions. (2) Survey NGO’s cognition of VOC We sent 303 questionnaires to NGOs to survey their cognition about information of VOC. The survey concluded that most of the interested groups understand VOC issue. Eight groups had the related activities before. There are 94% groups are willing to attend the VOC introduction seminar; 60% groups are willing be the VOC reduction partnership in the future. To assist the VOC reduction propaganda, the requests from NGOs are funding and introduction tools. (3) Collect local government’s works on the reduction of burning in religious ceremony The burning of religious ceremony includes the burning of joss paper and incense. This project collected the works of 20 counties nationwide. The major work of the counties is to promote the collection and burn together system. The amount of the collected joss paper was increasing yearly. The other works that local government ever implemented includes burning joss paper together in festivals and reducing burning promotion. (4) Inventory the producing and burning amount of the joss paper According to our statistics, there were 280,116 tons joss papers imported and manufactured locally in 2007. The past inventory indicated that the amount of joss paper burning was 77,900 tons in 2004, and 34,920 tons in 2005. The amount of joss papers burning in Taiwan for the past inventories were all underestimated. (5) Rank the priority for major commodity VOC reduction The selection criteria for commodity in VOC reduction were based on the use amount or necessity. Paints and detergents were used considerable in Taiwan. The two commodities have both carcinogenetic risk and hazardous air pollutants. The detergents may release specific environmental hormones. So both paints and detergents are suggested on the product list for the VOC reduction. (6) Prepare media means for VOC reduction propaganda The VOC reduction handbook, posters, banners and website was made as the media means for VOC reduction propaganda. (7) Participate in events of major environmental activity and to advocate VOC reduction in the events We set show boot in several events of major environmental activity, including Taipei County Environmental Education Center Opens, 2008 World Earth Day garden party, COOL (cool) Taipei, anti-warming garden party, and Flea Market to promote VOC reduction issue. We introduced the VOC reduction issue to public and people who participated the events. (8) Host the VOC reduction promoting meeting We have hosted 5 VOC reduction seminars in this project. The seminars were held in Taipei, Hualien, Kaohsiung, Taichung separately. The document of introduction to VOC was delivered to the members who participated the seminars. (9) Host a forum for the dialogue between religious and environmental concern groups On May 30, 2008 the forum for dialogue between religious and environmental concern groups was held at the National Taiwan University's international conference centre. Before this forum, three pre-meetings were held for the preparation of the forum. In the pre-meetings, religious groups exchanged the experiences of religious burning reduction, and focused the issues that will be discussed in the forum. In the ending of the forum, the representatives from all parties sign a VOC reduction declaration. Some media were invited to report the forum to the public.

Volatile Organic Compounds, Joss paper, commodity