Taiwan would face an estimated daily shortfall of 500 tonnes in kitchen waste capacity if the government were to continue banning its use as pig feed following last month’s outbreak of African swine fever, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) said today.
The Ministry of Environment is working with local governments to review capacity and negotiate land use, while investigating medium to long-term solutions, he told reporters ahead of a meeting at the legislature.
The ministry is exploring biomass energy solutions, rapid composting and black soldier fly farming, in which larvae are raised to convert organic waste into animal feed and fertilizer, he said.
Photo: Tung Chen-kuo, Taipei Times
Assessments are expected to take one to two years, he added.
Epidemiological results released on Monday showed that the first case of African swine fever detected in Taiwan was likely caused by improperly sanitized kitchen waste used as pig feed at the infected hog farm in Taichung.
Use of kitchen waste as pig feed was banned temporarily after the outbreak last month, and extended after Monday’s finding.
Last year, Taiwan produced 772,000 tonnes of kitchen waste, or 2,115 tonnes per day, which included 505,000 tonnes from households and 267,000 tonnes from businesses, ministry data showed.
The estimated shortfall of 500 tonnes would mostly come from restaurants, catering companies and other businesses, which poses a greater challenge than household kitchen waste, as it cannot be integrated into existing systems, Peng said.
The issue would vary by region, with the six special municipalities facing the greatest pressure and requiring tailored solutions, he said.
This is particularly true in Taichung, which already struggles with waste disposal, he said.
As for Pingtung County, it can handle the 40 tonnes of kitchen waste it produces per day, but many counties in the south send their waste to Pingtung for treatment and could soon face difficulties with the increased volume, he added.
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