Recycling

Interview with Yunchia Luo and Yichun Lin by Dan Abril

In a small café in Taipei, a movement was born. In 1998, six individuals, primarily from academia, met to discuss a shared concern: the burgeoning issue of waste. Led by George Cheng, a finance specialist with a passion for environmental sustainability, the group embarked on a journey that would lead to the establishment of the Taiwan Watch Institute (TWI). 

Inspired by anti-incinerator movements abroad and fueled by collaborations with international bodies like GAIA, Cheng, despite limited resources, began his crusade against waste incineration primarily using radio broadcasts to raise awareness.

From these modest beginnings, TWI forged partnerships and lobbied tirelessly to reshape waste policies in Taiwan. Teaming up with the Worldwatch Institute in Washington D.C., TWI translated annual reports while advocating for a paradigm shift towards zero waste across sectors.

Today, TWI remains steadfast in its commitment to its founding ideals, employing translation, research, and policy advocacy to realize the vision of a waste-free world. We had the chance to talk with TWI’s Editor Yunchia Luo and Researcher Yichun Lin. They shared that despite TWI’s initial limitations, the organization has made significant strides by engaging with local community leaders, grassroots activists, and educators.

What are TWI’s top priorities?

Our top priority at TWI is achieving zero waste, as we believe it to be the foundation of all our endeavors. This commitment drives us to advocate for source reduction, waste separation, and composting initiatives. We’re particularly passionate about promoting volume-based waste fees to incentivize waste reduction, drawing inspiration from the success seen in cities where such policies are in place. 

Additionally, we’re dedicated to promoting clean production practices, especially in industries like petrochemicals and electronics. We constantly urge these industries to transition to eco-friendly methods and reduce the use of hazardous chemicals. It’s a challenge, as we often face resistance, but we continue to advocate for legislative reforms to support a circular economy. We consistently pressure the government to prioritize eco-friendly policies and reduce energy and water consumption in industries such as petrochemicals, steel, and electronics. However, we’re also aware of our limitations in influencing industry practices due to economic interests, but we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a waste-free future.

What are the main ongoing campaigns of TWI?

For over two decades, TWI has led the anti-incineration movement in the country, persistently mobilizing communities by raising awareness about the harmful effects of incinerators despite government support for the practice. Moreover, TWI has played a key role in calling for legislation promoting sustainable resource management, emphasizing principles such as extended producer responsibility and at source reduction.

Lately, TWI has redirected its attention towards addressing PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” which are associated with various illnesses, including cancer and thyroid disorders, as well as contamination in food packaging. The use of PFAS remains an overlooked global concern in Taiwan but we’re aiming to change that through testing and awareness initiatives, we seek to advocate for regulations governing PFAS substances, with the ultimate goal of eradicating their usage in food packaging.

What are your biggest accomplishments/achievements?

Our progress, though gradual, holds significant weight. Firstly, over decades, our efforts to educate citizens about the hazards of incineration policies have spurred a shift in waste management practices, favoring recycling systems over additional incinerators. Secondly, our initiatives in plastic education have heightened public awareness of plastic reduction and improved understanding of the plastic lifecycle. We’ve advocated for the government to phase out the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in food packaging while promoting the development and adoption of alternative materials. Lastly, our community engagement efforts have encouraged citizens to participate in closely sorting waste for recycling, both in neighborhoods and schools. These achievements serve as catalysts for further sustainable development objectives.

What challenges are you facing? 

Our biggest challenge comes from society’s focus on economic growth over environmental protection. When an economy grows, environmental concerns often take a backseat. This shouldn’t be the case. We believe that the government could and should set limits on how resources are used and waste are generated, such as how much water and electricity a company can use and how they manage their waste. We’re teaming up with other environmental groups to push for laws that promote recycling and sustainability, but it’s an ongoing effort. Plus, we rely on donations from people like you to keep our work going.

What are the main environmental issues that your country/region is facing?

In Taiwan, our environmental challenges are deeply rooted in the relentless pursuit of economic growth. Our primary goal is to establish boundaries to address this core issue. We’ve made strides in waste management and in advocating for solutions. Our focus now is on refining legislation to strengthen the initiatives we introduced. Another concern is food safety, particularly regarding harmful chemicals in processed foods. We’re dedicated to raising awareness about these dangers and promoting safer consumption practices.  Finally, we’re championing a transition to cleaner energy sources and restoring ecosystems; environmental groups across the country share these key priorities.

How do you see your organization’s work evolving in the next few years?

Looking ahead, our organization is focused on several key initiatives to guide our future path. First, we will persist in translating international data, news, reports, and scientific findings to Mandarin to enrich our domestic knowledge base. This ensures that our efforts are well-informed and firmly grounded in robust evidence. Moreover, we are committed to cultivating stronger partnerships with international organizations and local NGOs, with a particular emphasis on addressing PFAS restrictions and promoting plastic reduction. Through close collaboration with like-minded entities, we can combine our expertise and resources to drive meaningful change on a global scale. Lastly, we maintain our dedication to collaborating closely with local schools and communities to implement environmental action projects, such as organizing closely-sorted collections for recycling. Through direct engagement with educational institutions and grassroots communities, we empower individuals to take proactive steps toward sustainability.

What are your thoughts on the waste crisis that many countries in your region (and in the world) are living in right now?

The waste crisis boils down to two main issues: the staggering amount of waste produced and then how we manage it. To tackle the first problem, we need to focus on source reduction, phase out the use of unnecessary, single-use products or packages with reusable or refillable ones, and to call on the government to set a cap on the amount of industrial waste generated.

In Taiwan, many people have benefited from efficient regular door-to-door waste collection services for years, leading people to overlook the severity of the waste crisis. However, relying heavily on incineration as a quick fix only masks the true harm of waste, hiding its toxicity in emissions and ash. This shortsighted approach fails to address the root cause of the issue.

Ultimately, the waste crisis is a symptom of the linear material economy, serving as a warning sign that we must address. While recycling plays a crucial role, source reduction remains the most effective solution, as outlined in the Waste Hierarchy.

Do you collaborate with partners in other regions? If so, how?

In our early years, our focus was primarily on translation work, with a particular emphasis on reports from the WorldWatch Institute. While the Institute may no longer be as active, we’ve maintained our commitment to translating important reports and studies, now sourcing them from organizations like GAIA or the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN). We also assist in promoting webinars hosted by these organizations and occasionally participate as responders. Further, we collaborate on projects with GAIA and IPEN, helping to gather data from Taiwan, such as the recent PFAS in food packaging project. In the past, our partners from IPEN even visited Taiwan to collect samples from our incinerators’ bottom ash, while GAIA helped us track waste flow imported into Taiwan in 2015, leading to the exposure of illegal operations by recycling companies.

How does your work on waste relate to social justice?

The injustice within our waste recycling system is glaring, particularly evident in how grassroots collectors and waste pickers struggle to carry out a living. In a recent incident in 2023, a small collection business was forced to shut down due to an anonymous report, highlighting the prevalent “not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) mentality. This business had been a lifeline for many informal waste pickers, offering a place for collecting and distributing recyclables. With its closure, the waste pickers, often elderly and frail, are now forced to trek long distances to alternative collection sites across the city, underscoring the discriminatory nature of our legal system.

The recycling market further perpetuates significant injustices against collectors. The government or processors (like paper mills), set baseline prices for recyclables that are underestimated which could not cover the cost of collection and separation, thereby squeezing the earnings of collectors. This system, informed by government funds and policy, favors centralized and automatized materials recovery facilities, marginalizes disadvantaged groups, and hinders social justice efforts.

To amplify the voices of waste collectors in our advocacy work, we collaborate with NGOs and groups dedicated to supporting informal waste workers. We, recognizing that existing regulations often work against them,  evaluate the cost of waste collection, separation, and storage, advocate for higher recycling fees to provide financial incentives for their crucial work, and call on the government to provide suitable spaces for the waste collectors in the cities, seeking to address the systemic barriers they face within the current legal framework. Despite their limited numbers, informal collectors play a vital role in waste management, and it’s high time that their contributions are acknowledged and valued by society.

Who do you admire most in environmental work?

Indigenous peoples are the backbone of environmental movements against harmful developments like incinerators and landfills. These brave individuals, deeply connected to their land, stand up against big corporations and authorities to protect their homeland. In one remarkable story from 2020, a group of villagers fought against a new landfill for nearly 20 years. Led by the village head and later his son, took extraordinary measures to stall the landfill company, including blocking the entrance with cement blocks and maintaining a 24/7 vigil for almost two years, despite most protesters being elderly. With support from NGOs like TWI and through public awareness, they successfully halted the landfill’s operation as the company’s permission expired. This stands as a monumental achievement in Taiwan’s environmental history.

Call for funding

Small regular donations are greatly appreciated to support the environmental advocacy efforts of the Taiwan Watch Institute. Donations of just NT$ 200.00 or 300.00 a month, equivalent to reducing the consumption of a cup of bubble tea per week or a bucket of fried chicken per month, can make a significant impact. If you’re interested in contributing and supporting their initiatives, visit Taiwan Watch Institute for more info.