From Waste to Wealth: How Composting Fits into Taiwan’s Circular Economy Vision

Taiwan is striving to minimize waste and maximize resource recovery through its commitment to the circular economy. This concept emphasizes keeping resources in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value from them, and then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their service life. Composting aligns perfectly with this vision by transforming organic waste into a valuable resource, reducing the need for landfills and supporting sustainable practices.

Composting provides significant benefits to several key sectors in Taiwan:

• Agriculture: Compost reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers, improves soil health, and enhances crop yields. This supports sustainable agriculture and reduces the environmental impact of farming.  
• Waste Management: Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing the need for landfilling and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes to a more efficient and sustainable waste management system.  
• Energy Production: Composting can be integrated with biogas generation, providing a renewable energy source and further reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This supports Taiwan’s renewable energy targets and contributes to a cleaner environment.  

Taiwan’s government actively promotes circular economy practices in waste management through policies and initiatives that encourage composting and resource recovery. The “4-in-1 recycling programme” involves government, manufacturers, consumers, and licensed recycling enterprises, all working together to achieve waste reduction and resource reuse. Private sector businesses are also embracing circular economy principles, developing innovative business models that turn composting into a profitable industry.

Taiwan has seen successful implementation of circular economy principles in various contexts:

• Cities: Taipei’s “garbage doesn’t touch the ground” policy and its comprehensive recycling system demonstrate effective waste management and resource recovery at the city level.  
• Companies: Formosa Flexible Packaging Corp. is developing biodegradable and compostable packaging solutions, contributing to a circular economy by reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable packaging options.
• Farms: The Dragonfly Stone Organic Ecological Farm utilizes black soldier flies to compost organic waste, producing animal feed and fertilizer, showcasing a closed-loop system in agriculture.  

Composting has the potential to play a key role in a waste-free future for Taiwan. However, challenges remain in scaling up composting infrastructure and ensuring widespread public participation. Bridging gaps between policy, technology, and public awareness is crucial for maximizing the benefits of composting and achieving a truly circular economy.

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