Burning incense and joss paper to honor ancestors has long been a tradition during Qingming Festival. In order to mitigate air pollution caused by these practices, the Department of Environmental Protection of the Taoyuan City Government (TYDEP) is promoting a low-carbon approach to ancestor worship. The initiative encourages the “3R” principle—Respect, Replace, and Reduce—allowing people to pay respect to their ancestors while minimizing environmental impact.
Yan Ji-Liang, Director of the TYDEP, stated that since 2023, the city has implemented the “Taoyuan Low-Carbon Worship Guidelines.” These guidelines promote using locally sourced fruits and vegetables with minimal packaging as offerings, reducing incense burning, opting for alternatives to joss paper and centralizing its burning. Residents who wish to burn joss paper are advised to deposit it in designated collection points at columbaria, cemeteries, or temples. The collected joss paper is then transported by local sanitation teams to incinerators equipped with air pollution control systems.
Director Yan highlighted the significant environmental benefits of centralized incineration. Open-air burning of joss paper generates approximately 2.75 kilograms of PM2.5 pollutants per metric ton. In contrast, incinerating it in facilities with air pollution control systems reduces PM2.5 emissions to just 0.5 kilograms per metric ton. In 2024, Taoyuan City successfully collected and centrally incinerated 1,863 metric tons of joss paper, preventing around 4.9 metric tons of PM2.5 emissions—an achievement that underscores the effectiveness of the low-carbon worship initiative.
TYDEP also warned against the open-air burning of joss paper, incense, or weeds during tomb-sweeping activities, as these practices release hazardous pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and carbon monoxide. More alarmingly, substances like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pose serious risks to respiratory health. Additionally, open-air burning can lead to fire hazards and legal consequences, including charges for offenses against public safety and penalties for violating air pollution regulations. The public should not risk breaking the law. TYDEP emphasized that choosing low-carbon alternatives, such as digital offerings, is just as respectful and meaningful as traditional rituals. By making a simple change in worship practices, the public can contribute to reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment for future generations.