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.