Taiwan produces 240,000 metric tons of industrial plastic waste annually, of which only about 28% is reused. The Environmental Protection Administration is promoting industrial plastic recycling and held a press conference today (19) to promote the "Resource Recycling Industry Chain." It is targeting the electronic components manufacturing industry first and calling on the industry's upstream, midstream and downstream to improve resource recycling efficiency.
The technology industry produces a wide variety of waste plastics, some of which were previously treated solely through incineration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that it will prioritize the technology industry, aiming to increase its current plastic recycling rate from over 65% to 75%, equivalent to an additional 3,000 metric tons of recycled plastic. Major companies like TSMC and ASE have also pledged to achieve near-100% recycling of their waste plastics.
Industrial waste plastic recycling: TSMC regulates suppliers, ASE establishes recycling center
The amount of waste plastic generated by domestic consumers and industries is similar, but composite materials are more common in industries, and the recycling and reuse process is relatively complicated.
Regarding source management of plastic waste, semiconductor giant TSMC has drafted a "Supplier Material Packaging Specification White Paper," mandating that all supplier packaging materials comply with the company's recycling standards. The company is also collaborating with recycling companies to implement sorting. Last year, 8,000 tons of plastic were recycled, achieving a 66% recycling rate. The goal is to reach 95%. TSMC's first "Zero Waste Manufacturing Center" in Central Taiwan Science Park will also begin operations next year.
ASE will send plastic waste of different materials, sizes and types scattered across different factory sites to its newly established "Circular Resource Recycling Center". After being concentrated, sorted, crushed and compressed, it will be sent to recycling manufacturers. ASE's current resource recovery rate is 68%, and it has set a goal of achieving 100% resource recovery by 2024.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/233883)
