Taipei’s “total recycling, zero landfill” entry won second place in this year’s Metropolis Awards, which honor projects that improve the quality of life for cities, city government officials said yesterday.
The award represents the success of the city’s recycling program, Taipei Deputy Mayor Chen Wei-jen (陳威仁) told a press conference.
Taipei began its “pay as you throw” trash collection system in 2000. Under the system, residents must purchase trash bags sold by the government to dump their household waste.
The policy encourages residents to separate their recyclables and reduce their overall volume of waste, according to the city government.
Citing the significant drop in waste volume from 2,501 tonnes per day in 1994 to 59 tonnes per day in 2009 at the Shanchuku landfill in Nangang District (南港), the city government said the goal of eventually achieving zero landfill was attainable.
The award is presented by the Spain-based Metropolis Association. Created in 1984, the association is represented by more than 100 cities and operates as an international forum that explores issues and concerns common to all big cities and metropolitan regions.
Taipei and Greater Taichung have been members of the association since 2008.
The award is presented once every three years. Panels award projects or events that focus on urbanism, the environment, housing, public transport, security, economic, social and cultural development.
The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on Nov. 25 in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. Chen will represent Taipei at the awards.
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