Food Recovery and Reuse Plan

Type of practice Recycle, Recover

Name of practice Food Recovery and Reuse Plan

Name of main actor Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration

Type of actor(s) Public authority

Location Taiwan province of China

Stage of implementation End-of-life

Year of implementation 2001

What was/is being done? Taiwan (Province of China) has successfully implemented zero-waste policies, experiencing economic growth, while controlling waste generation. Its Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) began promoting source separation and recycling of food waste in 2001; by 2009, 319 municipalities were benefiting from food waste recycling systems.

Outcomes and impacts Through the Food Waste Recovery and Reuse Plan, which includes awareness-raising campaigns, promotion and incentives for composting facilities, the food waste recycled daily is tantamount to the volume of waste processed. This is done using two 900 tonne incineration plants, with daily collection rates rising from 80 tonnes in 2001 to 1 997 tonnes in 2009, of which approximately 75 percent is used as pig feedstuff, 24 percent is composted and only 1 percent undergoes other treatments (Allen, 2012). In addition, due to the decrease in waste, three incineration plants in Taipei were forced to halve their operations. This shows that sound commitment and cooperation among public and private authorities and citizens is an effective means to achieve food waste reduction and high recycling rates. The EPA also promotes initiatives to enhance home compost treatment facilities and is seeking private investments to increase the compost market.