The International Conference on Resource Recycling opened Nov. 13 in Taipei City, with municipal government representatives from 11 countries on hand, according to the ROC Environmental Protection Administration.
“Modern cities must adopt sustainable management policies,” EPA Minister Stephen Shu-hung Shen said. “By exchanging views and experience with other countries, we can ensure our future competitiveness,” he added.
“Resource recycling and zero waste are one of the EPA’s main goals,” Shen noted. “By requiring the sorting of household garbage and payment of collection fees through the purchase of trash bags, we cut daily rubbish production per person to 0.43 kilogram in 2011, from a high of 1.1 kg.”
Taiwan’s program linking up residents, recycling companies, local governments and recycling funds has increased the recycling rate to 51.76 percent, he added.
Henrik Harjula, former principal administrator of the Environment Directorate under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, was the keynote speaker. Delegates from Brazil, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden and the U.S. will discuss the development of innovative sustainable management policies with government officials and industry representatives from Taiwan.
An exhibition centered on green households is being held in conjunction with the gathering, with displays by government agencies, academic institutions, recycling firms and green product manufacturers. Products made from recycled plastics, glass, wood, paper and rubber, as well as artworks created with used materials, demonstrate the commercial possibilities of resource recycling.
The exhibition will run until the afternoon of Nov. 14, while the conference is set to close Nov. 15, the EPA said.
