Since the Taiwan Marine Debris Management Platform was jointly set up by the EPA along with civic environmental organizations in July 2017, Taiwan's management strategies for marine waste have progressed much and matured. The Taiwan Marine Debris Governance Action Plan has four focuses: source reduction; prevention and removal; research and investigation; and expansion of collaboration and participation. Combining with the "Salute to the Ocean" policy, the public and private sectors work together to thoroughly clean up marine waste.

Marine waste is a major ongoing marine environmental problem of concern to all nations. In particular, marine plastic waste has a profound impact because of its slow decomposition in the environment. In September 2020, the Taiwan-US Environmental Protection Technological Collaboration Agreement was signed, and its No. 13 Executive Plan targets marine waste as requiring cross-departmental collaboration. This reflects the significance and urgency of the marine waste problem.

Taiwan Marine Debris Management Platform, a result of joint efforts by the public and private sectors

In July 2017, the EPA and civic environmental organizations set up the Taiwan Marine Debris Management Platform (hereinafter the Platform). and drafted the Taiwan Marine Debris Governance Action Plan (hereinafter the Plan). The Plan's second amended version was completed at the 12th Platform meeting on 30 August 2019. All the Platform members will work on the Plan's four social aspects, covering 76 measures based on the collaboration of both the public and private sectors. The second aspect, prevention and removal aiming to stop garbage from entering oceans, has 33 ongoing and future projects.

As for the source reduction strategy, it has 18 ongoing and future projects. Currently, the number of participating civic environmental organizations has reached 12, up from the original eight, while participating government agencies include the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA), the Fisheries Agency (FA), and the EPA. However, the marine waste issue is complex, and individual agencies or organizations have limited capabilities. With the urgent need to launch conservation work across all aspects, the Platform plans to invite relevant agencies and organizations to its meetings to further influence marine waste stakeholders. It hopes to raise social awareness so everyone can shoulder their responsibility to safeguard the environment by reducing the generation and impact of marine waste.

The Taiwan Marine Debris Governance Action Plan has the following four focuses:

1. Source reduction

2. Prevention and removal

3. Research and investigation

4. Expansion of collaboration and participation

Action Plan

I. Source reduction

Strategy 1: Policy planning

(1) Ongoing projects

1. The policy to limit plastic shopping bags and plastic disposable utensils was first formulated in 2002 and expanded in 2017.

2. Measures were formulated in 2005 to limit over-packaging.

3. Measures were formulated in 2007 to limit plastic trays, packaging, and containers.

4. Measures have been implemented since 2011 to reduce single-use beverage cups at source.

5. Measures were implemented in 2017 to limit cosmetics and individual hygiene products that contain microplastic beads.

(2) Future projects

1. To reach the goal of “no plastic” by 2030, measures with corresponding timetables and specific actions will be formulated to reduce or ban single-use plastic products. The public sector is not to use disposable utensils when organizing indoor and outdoor events. Other plastic reduction policies will also continue to be implemented.

2. The program of Green Mark hotels will be promoted to encourage hotel enterprises to get certified.

3. To help reduce plastic bottle usage, the EPA aims to enhance the functioning of public water fountains by supervising all city and county governments to maintain water fountains and appropriate equipment and adequately sample and inspect water quality. In addition, there are practical planning programs aimed at increasing water fountain usage. Afterwards, based on actual results, the EPA will formulate other programs to add water fountains in densely populated areas or spots with high potential needs.

4. There are plans to subsidize commercial spaces or night markets in all counties and cities that are designated plastic reduction demonstration spots.

5. Oyster farms are encouraged to replace their Styrofoam floating racks, and there are proposals to solve the problem of Styrofoam pieces breaking off from the racks or floating outside the farms and becoming marine waste.

Strategy 2: Corporations' extended producer responsibilities

(1) Ongoing projects: There are companies, such as organic food suppliers such as Leezen and Fuyah, that voluntarily reduce plastic or set up systems that demonstrate biodegradable packaging material decomposition.

(2) Future actions

1. In the future, the Platform will focus on applying the zero-waste principle in policies and incorporating the principle when designing single-use packaging materials or containers to achieve a circular economy for plastic. There will also be efforts to encourage research of alternative materials and promote relevant technology and regulations.

2. Corporations are urged to cut down packaging, and to organize events such as the Clean Ocean Industry Expo.

II. Prevention and removal

Strategy 1: Effective removal of wastes in hotspots

(1) Ongoing projects: Some harbors regularly clean up port garbage with machines or human cleaning crews.

(2) Future actions

Competent port authorities are in charge of cleaning and maintaining harbors and cleaning floating garbage by purchasing special machinery or employing a special workforce.

There will be programs to encourage vessels and boats to help collect floating garbage. A collection fleet of 2,500 vessels is expected to be assembled.

Programs will be in place to train volunteer divers and promote underwater collection of marine waste via correct and safe methods.

Strategy 2: Stopping waste from entering oceans

(1) Ongoing programs

Collection of river garbage interception data

- regular inspection of garbage treatment facilities and sites (landfills, transfer stations, etc.) along coasts and river banks, and supervising local governments to conduct the closing, equipment maintenance, waste and dumping management at landfills along riverbanks, coasts and areas under the standard flood submerge level

- assisting local governments with recycling

- totaling the amount of recycling in fishing (and commercial) ports in cities and counties

- supervising coastal and seaside environmental bureaus to conduct beach clean-ups

- urging competent authorities of fishing and commercial ports to clean and maintain harbor environments

- supervising local governments to set up inspection routines in hotspots for dumping coastal and floating garbage and install collection machinery

- strengthening supervision for local governments to properly inspect and manage environments and sanitation in commercial (and fishing) harbors as well as to study how vessels entering harbors dispose of waste

(2) Future programs

- calculating data on river garbage interception and removal

- conducting large-size garbage removal/interception programs

- enhancing plastic container recycling data

- transferring offshore island waste back to Taiwan

Strategy 3: Education and promotion for public participation

(1) Ongoing programs

Ongoing programs include the national adoption system for coastal maintenance, voluntary civic beach clean-ups, the beach currency system in Siaoliuqiu, Strawless March, and voluntary civic street cleaning events. In addition, the EPA conducts the national adoption system for coastal maintenance, supervising oceanside local environmental bureaus to conduct beach clean-ups, and publicizing well-performing beach adopters every season.

(2) Future actions

The EPA will designate target beaches for stricter management, set up a platform that investigates and announces beaches awaiting clean-ups, and facilitate clean-ups by coordinating civic organizations, adopting organizations or bodies, and city and county cleaning units.

Civic organizations continue to organize beach clean-up events in pollution hotspots plagued with marine waste.

III. Research and investigation

Strategy 1: Understanding coastal and marine pollution in Taiwan via research and monitoring

(1) Ongoing programs:

- monitoring and investigations by civic organizations on marine waste

- investigations of impacts of marine waste on wildlife (such as cetaceans)

- international investigation of land-to-ocean marine waste

- phased investigation and monitoring of significant coasts

(2) Future actions

- phased investigation and monitoring of sources and composition of major marine garbage

- the first rapid beach survey on waste across Taiwan in June 2018

- investigation of impacts on living organisms and ecosystems from marine waste

- investigation of impacts on human societies and economy from marine waste

- investigation and calculation of waste from rivers and large ditches

- Kuroshio's Voyage: Investigation of microplastic beads in Taiwan by sailing around the island

Strategy 2: Education and promotion for public participation

- Ocean Love Tour, held by the Taiwan Marine Waste Information Platform

- continuation and expansion of inviting the public to participate in marine waste monitoring

- Kuroshio's Voyage Plus: Expositions and speeches across Taiwan

IV. Expansion of collaboration and participation

Strategy 1: Expansion and strengthening of multilateral collaboration

(1) Ongoing programs: The Taiwan Marine Debris Governance Platform, and regularly experience exchanges on marine waste control inside and outside Taiwan, such as the 2017 Marine Waste Symposium

(2) Future actions

Exchanges on marine waste issues with Southeast Asia: Frequent international exchanges, forums, and visits on marine waste issues in Southeast Asia

Overseas visits: Participation in international marine waste forums or overseas tours, for example Greenpeace, Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation, and the Society of Wilderness went to the Sixth International Marine Waste Seminar in 2018, and the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association participated in an international meeting on at-source plastic reduction and zero-waste

(3) Launch of conversations with China on marine waste management via economic platforms such as Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), city-to-city memorandums, and exchanges and visits among civic organizations

(4) Strengthening marine waste awareness, training for government officials and civil servants to understand better the severity and urgency of marine waste.

Strategy 2: Expansion of public awareness and social concerns

(1) Ongoing programs: Puppet show tours depicting plastic waste in the oceans, garbage discovery tours, and avant-garde beach clean-ups

(2) Future actions:

All organizations' environmental education programs that focus on marine waste are eligible to apply for the EPA's Subsidization and Recruitment Plan for Civic Organizations and Schools to Organize Environmental Education.

"Salute to the Ocean," an interdepartmental effort

(1) Clear designation and delegation of coordination and execution responsibilities for coastal cleaning and maintenance to ensure garbage-free beaches

The Executive Yuan approved the "Salute to the Ocean" Coastal Cleaning and Maintenance Plan (2020 to 2023) on 7 May 2020. The program is jointly carried out by nine government agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Ministry of National Defense (MND), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Council of Agriculture (COA), the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the EPA. The participating agencies: take inventory of work items in the program such as coast clean-ups and source control; collaborate with local governments; and, establish a system consisting of regular, immediate, and emergency clean-ups. It is hoped that every inch of the entire 1,988 square kilometers of coastal lands in Taiwan can be cleaned up via such a system. Both the central and local governments have since 2020 invested labor and budgetary resources to maintain coasts under their respective jurisdiction, resulting in the collection of over 89,000 metric tons of garbage.

(2) Gradual reduction of coastal garbage via source reduction

Waste reduction from source includes incentives for recycling fishing nets and tools, reuse of Styrofoam, interception and removal of river waste, etc. The EPA is currently drafting a contract to jointly supply used Styrofoam as oyster racks. It is also setting up channels and mechanisms for proper recycling and reuse (for example making a keyboard and mouse with waste Styrofoam). So far, 5,103 collection spots in artificial facilities, such as pumps, interception gates, bridge piers, and drainage outfalls, have been set up at river sections before waterways join, along with pollution interception ropes in 62 spots in different river sections. In these locations, the EPA has been intercepting and removing garbage and pollution from rivers, resulting in collection of 11,209 metric tons of garbage in 2020, and setting a great example of cutting down marine waste at source.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, May 2021

The EPA has been working to build diverse food waste processing channels. In addition to permitting 694 pig farms to use food waste as pig feed, it has provided over NT$130 billion in subsidies to local governments to install food waste shredding, drying, and high-efficiency composting facilities; establish food waste bioenergy plants; enhance the efficiency of established composting facilities; and purchase collection and transport vehicles. These measures were aimed at making food waste processing more diverse and more effective.

The EPA pointed out that to satisfy the needs and development of the pig farming industry, it had approved 694 pig farms to use food waste as pig feed, allowing the traditional practice of using food scraps to feed pigs to continue. However, to prevent the spread of African swine flu via food waste, the EPA is still making every effort to supervise and urge pig farms to implement high-temperature cooking of food waste. According to the EPA’s statistics, 9,279 pig farms have been inspected since 1 Feb 2019, when environmental authorities across the country started vigorous inspections of pig farms to ensure the safety of using food waste as pig feed.      

In addition, after a recent floating dead pig incident in New Taipei City, environmental authorities across the country immediately began to carry out the instructions that the Central Emergency Operation Center ordered in response to the risk of African swine flu, and restarted inspections of the 694 pig farms permitted to use food waste, so as to reduce the risk of disease spreading through food waste.

The EPA reminded restaurants and enterprises to hand their food waste over to cleaning squads or legal pig farms to be made into pigswill or compost. They are not to hand food waste over to illegal pig farms or discard it randomly. Violators will be punished severely in accordance with the Waste Disposal Act.     

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, May 2021

With marine waste intensifying as a global issue in recent years, the EPA implemented the 2020 Demonstration and Promotion Plan for Marine Waste High-Quality Recycling and Reuse. Collaboration with local environmental bureaus, civic organizations, industries, and the certification institute will demonstrate the procedures (such as tracing through documents and records) that certify products as containing recycled waste from marine environments. Relevant legislation is also on the way, as the Operation Directions for Recycled Marine Debris Product Label, Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan (the Directions) has been announced on 9 April 2021 to serve as explicit reference for mechanisms that certify products using marine waste and for related labeling regulations. It is suitable for domestic and international companies to apply for the Recycled Marine Debris Product Label, demonstrating active actions and support for preventing the impact of marine waste on the environment. 

In response to international concerns about marine waste issues, the EPA promotes a Recycled Marine Debris Product Label system, and grants official certification marks to raw materials and products made from recycled marine waste, so that the public is aware of the importance of reducing marine waste. All companies or organizations are welcome to apply for label certification and do their best to fight against marine waste!

The EPA has established a recycled marine waste product verification mechanism and labeling specifications. On 9^th April 2021, it issued the Operation Directions for Recycled Marine Debris Product Label, to promote the Recycled Marine Debris Product Label. The collection, classification, treatment, and production of marine waste products shall establish traceable records. After the certification institutes have issued verification statements and verification reports, the weight of marine waste has reached more than 20%, and an application shall be submitted and a label shall be given after review.

There are 16 points in the Directions, which detail the application procedures, evaluation, and management of Recycled Marine Debris Product Label. The primary application documents are audit claims and reports issued by certification institutes which ensure that recycled materials come from coasts or marine environments. Applicants that are initially approved to use the label must then comply with all the Directions and pass the evaluation. The label has been registered after being approved by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). In its design, waves symbolize the ocean while a plastic bottle, the most iconic marine waste item, symbolizes its dual nature as waste and at the same time as a reusable material that can be transformed into various products after being recycled. The circular-shaped waves holding the plastic bottle portray a circular economy.

The EPA also noted that the multiple marine-waste-related labels in recent years were products of corporations and NGOs. What is unique about the EPA's label is that it will be the first in the world to focus on marine waste, that is supported by government agencies and that certifies strict procedures and protocols. The domestic and foreign certification institutes involved are required to comply with both ISO 17065 and ISO 17021 to certify and approve the label, for use in an open and free certification market.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, May 2021

Earlier this year the EPA worked with the Test Rite Group Shilin Branch, mounting a display in the store to demonstrate how to live an environmentally-friendly life. The branch has been rated excellent on the EPA's Green Store and Green Marketing Evaluation. It allows consumers, while on their shopping trips, to learn about environmentally-friendly behaviors that can be incorporated easily into day-to-day life.

The EPA and Test Rite Group joined hands on 7 April 2020 to promote the idea of "Just a Little More Green," which improves the living environment through small acts in day-to-day life.

"Make a green lifestyle the new normal!" said the EPA's Executive Secretary, Nien-Ho Ma, encouraging the public to continue building an environmentally-friendly living environment with the EPA via various measures. They include recycling, reducing plastic, carrying one’s own utensils, replacing old motorcycles, cleaning up and greening environments, and buying products with the Green Mark. This year, efforts have been intensified to bring in the public sector at all levels to join in and push for a green lifestyle by encouraging and mobilizing the public.

The display section in Test Rite Group Shilin Branch demonstrates what environmentally-friendly offices and households can look like and displays dozens of green products for consumers to choose from. For a green household, one can use products with the Green Mark, pay attention to how much is stuffed in refrigerators, clean air conditioner filters, and properly recycle. Also, clean air and a pleasant indoor environment are easily available by first choosing and then correctly watering and fertilizing plants that purify indoor air. Furthermore, the public is encouraged to support renewable energy, use low-carbon products and those with high energy efficiency, reduce idling time of appliances, and maintain appliance efficiency via constant cleaning. There are other good habits of electricity usage that lower energy consumption and cut utility bills, including replacing old household appliances with more energy-conserving ones, sun- or air-drying laundry instead of using machines, and cooking food after it is thoroughly thawed.

Seeing itself as an advocate of green consumption, Test Rite Group has been actively introducing various green products for years and in 2009 began applying to become a Green Store, starting by implementing energy conservation in the air conditioning and lighting of its stores. Various environmentally-friendly and energy-saving products are also continuously introduced to consumers, now accounting for 10.2% of total sales revenues.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, May 2021

The EPA preannounced in early April 2021 that ammonium nitrate and hydrofluoric acid have been added to the list of concerned chemical substances. Relevant controls concerning handling were announced based on the substances' characteristics and uses in the nation. In addition to listing them as concerned chemical substances with harmful effects, the preannouncement also signals the start to strengthened controls over potential risk areas where accidents may occur, such as the import, manufacture, use, storage, transportation, and sale of these substances.

The EPA pointed out that with different agencies responsible for managing ammonium nitrate and hydrofluoric acid, tracking of the flow of these substances and accident prevention and response is not well-regulated. After listing the two substances for control, the EPA will track them properly and gather complete data on their importation, transportation after they enter the country, storage, manufacture, use and management by enterprises. The aim is to have all departments working together, with individual delegated responsibilities, to manage the two substances.

Ammonium nitrate is often used in the production of agricultural fertilizers, dynamite, and explosives for mining. But improper storage and management can lead to accidents, such as the large blast in the port of Beirut, Lebanon in August 2020. Ammonium nitrate is also a raw material for nitrous oxide (laughing gas), the first concerned chemical substance announced and listed for control. Highly pure laughing gas can be generated after ammonium nitrate goes through thermal decomposition, so proper management of ammonium nitrate simultaneously constitutes proper management of a main precursor substance for laughing gas production.

Hydrofluoric acid can be made by adding water to hydrogen fluoride. Due to its corrosive properties, it is widely used in the etching and washing of semiconductor chips and other industrial uses. The solution is also commonly called "bone-melting water" or "white bone acid," which erodes and irritates the skin. Dermatological reactions such as pain, whitening, and reddish swelling occur when highly concentrated hydrofluoric acid contacts skin, while more severe effects include blistering and sloughing off of skin. In Taiwan, besides injuries caused by improper use, there have been multiple incidents where highly concentrated hydrofluoric acid was intentionally used in attacks. Once hydrofluoric acid is listed for control, besides the factories that use it, chemical raw material retailers and other channels that sell hydrofluoric acid shall be required to obtain approval documents to handle it in their operations, and thus risks will be reduced.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, May 2021