The Taoyuan City Government was honored at the "2023 Resource Circulation Excellent Enterprise, Government Agency, and School Awards Ceremony" organized by the Resource Circulation Administration of the Ministry of Environment today (Dec 1). The city received the High Distinction Award in the Sustainable Development category, while Chi Xuan Enterprise was acknowledged with an Excellence Award in the Support for Circulation category.
Chen Shih-Wei, Director-General of the Taoyuan Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP), highlighted the city's alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). To support the global initiative aimed at reducing plastic usage, the city government has actively advocated for source reduction policies. Implementing the Ministry of Environment's "Guidelines for Government Agencies and Schools to Reduce the Use of Disposable Tableware and Bottled Drinking Water," various city government agencies, schools, meetings, training sessions, and events have proactively refrained from providing disposable tableware, bottled water, or single-use beverage cups. Instead, they've embraced reusable alternatives such as metal lunch boxes and have introduced water dispensers or large water jugs. These initiatives have encouraged the use of reusable tableware through free distribution, rental, or deposit-based borrowing methods during events. Until October 2023, approximately 72,000 eco-friendly packaged meals were utilized during meetings, training sessions, reducing the usage of 880,000 disposable drink cups. This contributed to a carbon reduction of approximately 43,595 kgCO2.
The TYDEP is actively driving source reduction efforts starting from within. To encourage the use of reusable containers, the TYDEP has implemented a rental system for large-scale automatic dishwashers within its premises. This service facilitates the cleaning of reusable containers. They've also introduced an online meal ordering system for colleagues who prefer outside dining options. Through this, reusable containers are provided to restaurants for packing meals, enabling the usage of these containers within the TYDEP's dining facilities. As of November 2023, nearly 5,000 reusable containers have been utilized. This year (2023), in collaboration with the Rakuten Monkeys baseball team, Taoyuan City successfully introduced a pioneering initiative at the Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium. It marked the first large-scale sports event to utilize reusable cups throughout the season. Beverages, including beer, soft drinks, and other refreshments made on-site, were served in these reusable containers. The total count of cups used amounted to nearly 55,000, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 550 kgCO2.
Chi Xuan Enterprise, a local packed meal box provider in Taoyuan City, proactively responded to the waste reduction initiatives by independently procuring 300 eco-friendly meal boxes and dishwashing equipment since 2022. Prior to group orders, the company inquires with the customer about the preference for using eco-friendly meal boxes for packaging. Additionally, the company offers reusable containers for food delivery and provide discounts to customers who bring their own reusable containers for purchasing meals. As of today, the company is using nearly 3,000 eco-friendly meal boxes. Mr. Yan Chung-Hsin, the company proprietor, believes that protecting the environment requires collective effort from everyone.
TYDEP Director-General Chen Shih-Wei emphasized that waste reduction isn't just a slogan; it aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 12—Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Consumption and Production, respectively. He highlighted that each person's daily habits contribute, noting that while single-use bottled drinking water and disposable tableware might seem convenient, they pose severe environmental risks due to their sheer volume. He emphasized the importance of utilizing reusable containers to minimize the use of disposable tableware, aiming to alleviate the burden on our planet.