根據海外發展研究所(Overseas Development Institute,ODI)主持的G7石油天然氣與煤生產與使用量排名研究,英國的停止化石燃料補貼承諾是G7中最積極的,但透明度卻最差。《氣候之家》報導,儘管英國承諾2020年前逐步取消有害環境的補貼,但仍被指控試圖矇混煤礦開採和化石燃料補貼金額。
TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 14, 2017 (TEIA)– In Taiwan, plastic garbage collected by local cleaning units can be classified into three categories: "regulated plastic containers", promulgated by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) [1]; "miscellaneous plastics", which are mostly hard plastics; and "clean plastic bags".
The versatile plastic garbage can be heated to high values and is rich in chlorine and heavy metals. Incinerating the plastic garbage shortens the furnace's lifetime and produces toxic pollutants such as dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. However, there are challenges to recycling too. For example, the current recycling process degrades materials that make plastics useful. Recycling plastics requires high temperatures to melt the material, and it is the heat that leads to the material degradation. Hsieh Ho-Lin (謝和霖), Secretary-General of Taiwan Watch Institute, calls our attentions to ongoing recycled plastic garbage being incinerated despite local residents' efforts.
The versatile plastic garbage can be heated to high values and is rich in chlorine and heavy metals. Photo: Ikhlasul Amal via Flickr(CC BY-SA 2.0)
High Processing Cost Awes Business' Interest in Recycling Plastic Garbage
Plastic products are found everywhere, but plastic containers is the only category that the Taiwan EPA says can be recycled. Plastic containers include bottles, cans, and thin plate containers—such as trays and food wrappers. Other kinds of plastic products are not mandated by the Taiwan EPA—in other words, producers are not obliged to pay recycling, clearance and disposal fees. Meanwhile, local cleaning units do take up certain plastics garbage, called miscellaneous plastics. Its recycle mechanism heavily relies on the free market; however, hard plastic products are more preferred within this category. Besides aforementioned categories, clean plastic bags are required to be recycled due to excessive use in Taiwan.
Hsieh asserts that PET bottles and milk cartons are favorable to the recycling industry. Their homogeneities and large quantities make them apples of the business owner's eye. Other types of plastic garbage are different in compositions, categories, and physical forms, and this makes them more difficult to deal with. Hence, the majority of plastic garbage is just left in the recycle yard, waiting to be incinerated. Hsieh has heard that the Recycling Fund Management Board subsidizes recycling businesses to crush thin plastic garbage into pieces and send it for incineration instead of recycling.
In Taiwan, 18 local businesses are entitled to process plastic recycling and each of them has its specialized materials. Unlike the pessimistic observations from environmental groups, the Recycling Fund Management Board claims that Taiwan recycles up to 84% of plastics.
Notwithstanding 5.4 Billion PET Bottles Recycled Annually, Refilling/ Remaking Recycled PET Bottles Forbidden by Local Law
PET bottles and milk cartons are favorable to the recycling industry. Photo: Tom Page via Flickr(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Relatively speaking, PET bottles and milk cartons are homogeneous and numerous, which make them popular. A survey conducted by the Recycling Fund Management Board indicates that 5.4 billion PET bottles were recycled last year. Hsu Yung-Hsing (許永興), Executive Secretary of Recycling Fund Management Board, says that a local food safety law restricts PET bottles from being recycled into new PET bottles. Pelletizing PET is a popular way to recycle the bottles and is a good exporting business. It is favored by soft drink companies, such as Coca Cola, and can be made into quality blankets and sport jerseys.
Nevertheless, according to Hsieh, reprocessing plastics requires high temperatures to melt the material. The heat breaks and shortens the plastic's molecular link, thus yellowing and weakening the plastic and making it lose its color. Adding new materials or degrading for other usage are common when reusing the plastics. A new PET bottle would have to be 70% new material and 30% recycled.
Sorting Plastic Wrap Cleans up Hesitation in Categorizing the Wrappers
Hsieh reminds us that there are fundamental differences between types of thin plate containers, used as trays and food wrappers, even though they share a similar physical form. PS, PET, PVC, and PLA [2] are commonly used materials in the market. Mixing these materials in recycling makes processing a daunting task and draws back recycling business owners' interests. Even if with the aid of automatic categorizing devices, such as Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT), Hsieh worries that it is still difficult to correctly categorize the plastics.
Hsu comments that thin plate containers being made from different materials does not matter for recycling in Taiwan. The key is how to separate these different materials. A couple of years ago, local businesses introduced equipment with near-infrared sensor to separate different plastic materials based on spectrum from Germany. It has greatly increased recycling speed and accuracy compared to that of humans.
As for reducing plastic usage, voluntary actions and government actions on plastic reducing are taking place. In addition to reducing one-time use plastic products, Hsieh believes simplifying and detoxifying plastic material aided by applicable public policies can be a feasible solution. If we simplify the material first, then the recycling process will become simple.
Hsieh recommends "reverse recycling" thin plate plastics, starting with wholesalers. Wholesalers and chain stores can choose more durable materials for food wrappers, then encourage shoppers to bring those containers back to the shops. With proper sterilization and sanitation, these thin plastic containers can be reused. Hsieh feels that raw ingredients that are stored in these containers need to be cooked anyway, therefore using recycled thin plastic containers should not cause any food safety and sanitation concerns.
With regard to biodegradable plastic, PLA, only one local company, Da Fon (大豐), is well-equipped to recycle. Hsieh says that PLA loses its biodegradable feature if it is mixed with other materials.
Turning Plastic Bags, Miscellaneous Plastics, and Clothing into Alternative Fuels: A Better Deal for Us
Technology advancement on reusing plastics is an ongoing procedure. Hsieh holds that reducing the use of plastic products is the most environment-friendly action. Recycle should be the second priority. When recycling plastic garbage, particularly if the materials cannot be reused, we should at least ban the use of chlorine-rich plastics and inks to minimize toxic additives such as heavy metal. In this way, the non-profitable plastics can be re-heated and can become alternative fuels in solid, liquid, or gas form. This method is far more energy-efficient than sending plastics into the furnace.
The majority of plastic garbage is just left in the recycle yard, waiting to be incinerated. Photo: Taiwan Public Television Service
Indeed, Lai Yin-Yin (賴瑩瑩), Director of Department of Waste Management, Taiwan EPA, says that only clean plastic bags are currently being recycled. If all plastic bags, miscellaneous plastics, and clothing can be turned into alternative fuels would be a good way of reuse. However, local alternative fuel users are small in number, mainly from the pulp and paper industry; for example Cheng Loong Corp. (正隆), YFY Inc. (永豐餘), Kuan Yuan Paper (廣源), etc. The Taiwan EPA is working on promoting the use of alternative fuels to other boiler users.
To make the garbage a suitable alternative fuel, dechlorination and minimizing the use of heavy metals in plastic should be implemented, says Hsieh. Food wrappers are the most commonly produced plastic garbage in our everyday life. According to Hsieh, synthesized materials are widely used in food wrappers, such as wrapping for frozen dumplings or pastries, because they are good for making the wrappers airtight. Food vendors often use a coat of PVDC, a chlorine-rich plastic, coupled with colorful and vivid packing outer wrap colored by printing ink. Burning PVDC releases dioxins and dioxin-like compounds and the ink can be rich in chlorine and heavy metals—releasing toxic pollutants.
Hsieh says the government should regulate food wrapping materials by, among other things, making it compulsory to use chlorine- and heavy metal-free materials. Although these materials cannot be recycled, they can be turned into alternative fuels. This is significantly more energy- efficient than sending the plastics into furnaces.
Hsieh says we should at least ban the use of chlorine-rich plastics and inks to minimize toxic additives such as heavy metal. Photo: stevendepolo via Flickr. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Bureau of Environmental Inspection, Taiwan EPA, which is in charge of managing garbage furnaces, counted 6.6 million tons of general waste, plastic (16%), paper (36%), kitchen waste (39%), metal (0.5%), glass (0.9%), and others (8%) incinerated in 2016. Current in-use heating value is set at 2,200 to 2,500 kcal/kg; however, heating plastics takes up 4,000 to 5,000 kcal/kg. Hsieh warns that this high heating value of plastics not only reduces the furnace's capacity, but it also damages the furnaces. Gas from chlorine, dioxins and dioxin-like compounds and hydrochloric acid is released when the waste is incinerated, causing the furnace to malfunction. A malfunctioned furnace can release more harmful pollutants than a functioning one.
Wu Sheng-Jong (吳盛忠), Director of the Bureau of Environmental Inspection, Taiwan EPA, confirms that "if heating value is high, the manageable amount would be small" when incinerating plastic garbage with furnaces. Wu further notes that the trend of elaborating garbage process surely include turning them into alternative fuels. By using machines to break down garbage, then filter out metal and glass, the remaining plastics, kitchen wastes, and paper can be dehydrated and then grinded into pellets. These pellets can be used as an alternative fuel, or even turned into gasified alternative fuels.
※Note [1] to ensure resources are being used effectively and to reduce waste production, the Taiwan EPA promulgated "regulated recyclable wastes" in "Article 15, Paragraph 2, Waste Disposal Act." These regulated recyclable wastes can be divided into containers and items and classified into 33 products within 13 categories.
※Note [2] PLA, polylactide, a biodegradable and bioactive plastic material derived from corn starch.
TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 14, 2017 (TEIA)– The 37th Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX) was unveiled May 25th at Taipei World Trade Center. Over 3,000 pieces of collaborative work were crafted by over 10,000 student participants. More than just to showcasing the designers' creativity, many reflected the designers' own stances on environmental issues - and even proposed solutions.
This year's YODEX took place from May 25th to 28th, attracting 10,114 designers from 137 departments at 64 colleges. 3,599 works are being exhibited, ranging from product design, graphic design, visual communication design, packaging design, public interest, interior design, fashion design, game design, to multimedia design.
"You Zhong (有種)" aims to promote food and agricultural education by exhibiting variable edible plants planted in the form of cup noodles and notepads. Photo by Logan Lai.
Under the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs' industry-university cooperative research projects, many pieces tended to be market-oriented design and anticipate mass production. However; some designers seized the opportunity to show their stances on societal issues before pursuing their professional career upon graduation. Many of these designers opted for voicing concerns about or offering solutions to the issues of environmental protection and species conservation.
Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST)'s "STYCUM" set out a resolution to reduce seashore styrofoam pollution caused by oyster racks in Yuguangdao, Tainan. By installing wind-powered devices to intercept floating garbage around the oyster racks, scattered styrofoam scraps from these racks can be gathered more easily. It may not only reduce styrofoam pollution, but also bring oyster farmers new revenues from recycled goods. A STYCUM member, Shen Qian (沈芊), anticipates that the local government will learn about this project - simply because Tainan has the largest number of oyster racks in Taiwan.
By installing wind-powered devices to intercept floating garbage around the oyster racks, scattered styrofoam scraps from these racks can be gathered more easily. Photo by Logan Lai.
A team from Fo Guang University proposed a meticulously designed "drainage-cleaning" device, which prevents garbage and leaves from falling into drain holes and clogging the drainages. It also eases the burden on the cleaning unit.
"Ren Ren Zhi Zuo (人人製作)" from STUST, received an award in the cultural asset category for its potential in preserving traditional craftship, blending design concepts with traditional bamboo weaving techniques and producing bamboo-made sling chairs and cat houses. This team points out the toughness, plasticity, and rapid growth have made bamboo a key material in green construction in recent years. The team further notes the bamboo weaving craftspeople can be found in Hsinchu, Tainan, and Nantou and the team members hope their project help invigorate the local industry.
"Ren Ren Zhi Zuo (人人製作)" points out the toughness, plasticity, and rapid growth have made bamboo a key material in green construction in recent years. Photo by Logan Lai.
Similarly, another team selected millet, which is currently only planted in Tainan and Chia and commonly used as broom-making and weaving material. They discovered the strength and toughness of millet enables it to be used as thread, soundproofing material, and weaving stock, etc.
National Taichung University of Science and Technology's "You Zhong (有種)" aims to promote food and agricultural education by exhibiting variable edible plants planted in the form of cup noodles and notepads. Liu Yu-Xuan (劉妤瑄), a team member, explains the cup-noodle form aims to criticize modern fast food consumption, that is, not knowing what is being eaten. The project is keen on reminding people "I know what I eat"; sowing your own food is organic and healthy, plus it also greatly shortens food mileage.
Chou Yun-Zhen (周允蓁), a student from National Taipei University of Education outlined a board game, called Farm and Factory, to highlight the ongoing arable land being polluted by illegal factories in Taiwan. By playing this game, players can rethink the value and future direction of Taiwan's agricultural sector. This board game is currently looking for crowdfunding.
Many pieces of work, produced by students from the National Taiwan University of Arts, look into environmental issues relating to protection of species and plastic garbage.
"Under 1.0" by Wan Xiang-Xing (萬向欣), outlines 12 different hand-painted graphs of wild animals, denoted by region in the form of Snellen charts. Animals on the charts are scaled based on their conservation status indicated in IUCN Red List - the smaller it is, the less attention it gets. This serves to remind people that many species are facing extinction.
"Black Ecology (黑色生態)" utilizes fungal pigments to produce endangered species-themed paintings. As time goes by, the drawing becomes more clear as the cultures develop. The accompanying artist statements explain the causes of declining population for that particular species. A team member, Zhan Su-Ping, gives several examples, from right whales killed by hit-and-run cargo ships, manis and yellow-breasted bunting slaughtered for excessive food consumption, to helmeted hornbills hunted for the lucrative hornbill ivory trade.
"Tie-Up (塑縛)" and "Marine Revolution Ship (海洋革命號)" mark how plastic garbage threatens marine ecology by different approaches. "Tie-Up" finds a use for PET bottles, while "Marine Revolution Ship" makes use of plastic bags gathered from beaches in Taiwan.
"Tie-Up (塑縛)" marks how plastic garbage threatens marine ecology. Photo: 塑縛Tie-Up
"Tie-Up (塑縛)" marks how plastic garbage threatens marine ecology. Photo: 塑縛Tie-Up
"Tie-Up (塑縛)" marks how plastic garbage threatens marine ecology. Photo: 塑縛Tie-Up
"FOOT PRINT" selects 13 of the most common imported and exported goods in Taiwan to visualize carbon footprints in global trade. The team shipped out molded goods wrapped in carbon paper to record collisions that occurred during shipment. The outcomes reveal the enormous yet unseen carbon footprints in the oft-glamorized global trade industry.
新規定經過加州能源委員會(California Energy Commission)五位成員一致通過,將在兩年後上路。亦即,2020年1月1日起新蓋的獨棟房屋與三層樓以下公寓,都得強制裝設太陽能板。這項計畫也是州長布朗(Jerry Brown)減碳政策的一部分,以符合2030年減碳40%(相較1990年水準)、至少一半電力來自無碳能源的長期目標。
加州太陽能與儲存協會(California Solar & Storage Association)估算,往後每年將有1.5萬棟新屋裝設太陽能板,為當地新增260 MW的綠色電力,相當於一個大型太陽能農場的建置規模。
影響更大之處在於,此舉也為其他地方政府帶來了示範效應和遵循藍圖。「量子飛躍 (Quantum Leap) 時刻即將來臨!」加州建築產業協會(California Building Industry Association)高級工程師Bob Raymer在法令公布前就說,「我可以跟你打賭,全美各州都在等著看加州怎麼做,」他說的沒錯,從紐澤西、麻薩諸塞州、到華盛頓特區,都開始考慮做出類似要求,日照最充足的夏威夷與亞利桑那州,更是躍躍欲試。
政府極力推動電動車化,目標也指向機車、汽車、公車這三大類別。然而過程中遭遇哪些挑戰,中研院與台大風險社會與政策研究中心13日舉辦座談,請到交通部運研所綜合技術組組長曾佩如、經濟部工業局金屬機電組科長童建強以及電動車業者「綠動未來 Green E2 創辦人」劉小麟來與民眾分享他們在不同推動面向上的心路歷程。