Waste Management in Kaohsiung

Waste recycling rate in Kaohsiung jumped to 40% in year 2010 compared to 20% six years ago. This figure is very impressive and commendable. It means waste reduction, and hence waste disposal problem is solved at least by half. Knowing that the cost of collecting, transporting and disposal is getting higher, the strategies of getting less rubbish at source to be collected and disposed of is critical.

We were told that community participation is important impetus for a successful waste recycling programme. People must understand and willing to practice 3R as the norm of living. City Government is running various innovative publicity campaign and education programmes to raise public awareness. Apart from that, the low carbon lifestyle is impacted onto the people. Various incentives are given to people to shift to more environmental friendly lifestyle such as using solar heater, planting of trees, reducing the domestic waste, changing the consumption pattern of shopping and eating habit.

The polluter paid policy is also carried out in which polluters have to pay higher for substituting their wrong doing towards environment. For instance, waste generator is charged according to rubbish they produced. The residents are required to purchase plastic beg with size appropriate to their volume. The bigger size you required, the more you have to pay. Similarly, the use of plastic bag is discouraged through other legal and economic instruments such as stricter enforcement on waste generators.

All these happened because of commitment and leadership. Banning the use of plastic bag to some is equipped to political commit suicide, but to Kaohsiung City, the obligation towards environment is much more important than for political survival. I believe this spirit is very much needed if an effective 3R programme is envisioned.