Representatives of 102 environmental groups yesterday urged lawmakers to turn down a budget proposal by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to build waste incinerators. The legislature will review the budget tomorrow.
At a press conference held at the Legislative Yuan yesterday, environmentalists said the EPA had no reason to waste NT$3.7 billion, which accounts for 40.5 percent of its total budget for the 2003 fiscal year, because the amount of household waste was declining.
"Last year, Taiwanese residents generated 19,886 tonnes of household waste [a day], which was less than the capacity of the country's 19 operational waste incinerators, which was 21,000 tonnes of waste," said George Cheng (
Anti-incinerator activists yesterday invited lawmakers to sign a letter indicating their opposition to the EPA's proposal.
Among those supporting the activists is Su Chih-fen (
"The burning-oriented policy is obviously wrong," Su said at the press conference. "It would be one a mistake for ... the Legislative Yuan to approve the proposal."
In addition, activists criticized the EPA for failing to assess of the health risks of incinerators.
They charge that the government's practice of disposing of ash generated by the incinerators in regular landfills puts people's health at risk.
Environmentalists said that the EPA should immediately review its waste management policy as the country is grappling with economic recession and a high unemployment rate.
Activists said that Taiwan's long-term promotion of recycling programs continues to conflict with the country's burn-oriented waste management policies.
* NT$3.7 billion, or 40.5 percent of the EPA's total budget for the next fiscal year, is earmarked for the building of incinerators.
*According to an environmental group, Taiwanese produced 19,886 tonnes of waste a day last year.
* The group says the capacity of incinerators last year was 21,000 tonnes a day.
* The EPA estimates the nation will need 32 incinerators.
They hope to organize a demonstration of more than 1,000 people outside the Legislative Yuan tomorrow while the budget is debated.
Tsai Huei-min (
In March, Tsai said, the EPA announced that four incinerator projects would be abandoned.
On the basis of EPA's original estimates, 36 incinerators would have been capable of burning 30,400 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day by the end of next year. The revised policy decreases the total capacity for treating waste by 3,250 tonnes per day.
"The EPA's proposal doesn't have to be changed. We believe that 32 waste incinerators will meet demand over the next two decades," Tsai said,
He said that EPA officials will do their best to convince lawmakers to pass the budget.
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