As the Qingming Festival approaches, the Department of Environmental Protection of the Taoyuan City Government (TYDEP) is calling on residents to balance ancestral worship with environmental sustainability and public safety. While honoring ancestors, citizens are encouraged to adopt the “3R” principles of worship—Respect, Replace, and Reduce—by embracing low-carbon practices such as minimizing smoke, reducing offerings, and using centralized burning, while also taking precautions to prevent fire hazards and protect air quality during the holiday.
TYDEP Director-General Yen Chi-Liang noted that since 2023, Taoyuan has been promoting its “Low-Carbon Worship Guidelines.” This year, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Affairs and the Fire Department, the City continues to encourage practices such as one incense stick per burner, reducing joss-paper consumption, adopting alternative offerings, and centralizing burning. Residential communities requiring centralized burning may contact local cleaning teams to schedule pickups, or use designated collection points in cemeteries and columbaria, where items are later transported to incinerators equipped with pollution control systems. Data from 2025 reveals the impact of these measures, with centralized collection reaching 2,298 metric tons, effectively cutting PM2.5 emissions by approximately 6 metric tons.
TYDEP also warned of the heightened fire risks during the Qingming period, especially with stronger spring winds that can accelerate the spread of flames. Open burning of joss-paper or weeds not only causes air pollution but also endangers public safety and valuable forest resources. Citizens are urged to strictly follow the principle of “extinguish all flames before leaving” to reduce fire risks.
TYDEP further emphasized that traditional worship during the Qingming Festival often causes spikes in PM2.5 levels, posing greater health risks to the elderly, children, and individuals with respiratory sensitivities. The department encourages diverse eco-friendly practices, such as substituting joss-paper with rice, flowers, or food, using centralized burning, limiting incense use, opting for electronic firecrackers, and participating in online memorial services. Citizens are also encouraged to choose locally sourced produce and avoid excessive packaging. Low-carbon worship remains respectful, preserving the sincerity of honoring ancestors while contributing to a cleaner and more livable environment for future generations.