EPA pledges treatment of SARS waste

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) will ensure that waste produced by people quarantined because of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, is handled without putting others at risk of catching the virus, EPA Administrator Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said yesterday.

The EPA held an emergency meeting yesterday morning with the Department of Health to discuss the management of suspected infectious waste produced by probable and suspected SARS patients and residents isolated at home.

"We will do our best to ensure the waste will not cause environmental pollution or jeopardize public safety," Hau said after the meeting.

Hau said that he was disappointed to see a row erupt in Yunlin County yesterday over suspected infectious waste from the Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital, which has been closed since last Thursday as part of the government's SARS prevention measures.

"It's time for us to show our love for Taiwan. We should do our best to help those who are suffering because of the disease," Hau said.

Hundreds of residents of Yuanchang Township (元長鄉), Yunlin County, protested yesterday morning in front of Sunny Friend Environmental Technology Co Ltd, a contracted waste handler with the hospital.

"Why does the waste have to be burnt here? There are many other incinerators, including in Taipei," said township chief Li Chih-cheng (李志成), who led the demonstration.

The protest was triggered by a waste transfer last Saturday when Sunny Friend shipped 1.2 tonnes of waste from the hospital.

Sunny Friend said it was contracted to treat 30 tonnes of infectious waste produced by the hospital.

Due to strong local opposition, Sunny Friend later decided to break the contract, promising not to transfer any medical waste from Hoping to Yunlin County.

EPA officials, however, said yesterday that the government would force Sunny Friend, which has a daily capacity of 18 tonnes, to honor the contract by evoking the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法).

Hau said EPA officials will monitor all steps of infectious waste transfers.

"We will put EPA officials in Yunlin to ensure the waste will be processed smoothly," Hau said.

According to Chen Hsiung-wen (陳雄文), director-general of the EPA's Bureau of Solid Waste Management, Taiwan produces 380,000 tonnes of infectious medical waste annually, which is treated by 20 waste-treatment firms.

Chen said the total capacity of the 23 incinerators available to treat infectious waste is 880,000 tonnes.

"Even if the amount of medical waste is doubled due to the spread of SARS, existing waste handlers can still deal with the situation," Chen said.

In Kaohsiung, local opposition against the opening of a special SARS clinic for those suspected of carrying the disease became more violent as residents scared by the spread of SARS blocked the entrance to the building.

"Residents should should have kept their cool," said Han Ming-jung (韓明榮), director of the city's health department.

"The facility is still very far from the nearest residential area, making it impossible to spread infections," Han said.