Recent management strategies for municipal solid wastes in Taiwan

Reduction and recycling initiatives being implemented in Taiwan include producer responsibility, pay-as-you-throw, and etc. The paper presents the recent management programs implemented for municipal solid waste, and also studies the change of characteristics for incineration-feeding waste to explore the influence of management strategies of MSW reduction and recycling on the waste characteristics. It is found that not only the annual amount of MSW generated in 2008 decreases about 5% than that in 2005, but also the characteristics of refuse have significant variability due to the recent management strategies. A comparison on monthly variation of chemical elements indicates that the chlorine content in refuse changes obviously. This would be the result from the usage reduction in PVC plastic due to the RFM program, and the food waste as well as salt content reduction due to the TKG program. This achievement would give a benefit to reduce the dioxins emission from MSW incineration. In summary, the management strategies must be conducted in tandem with the global trend to achieve a zero-waste-discharge country. It is important to consider the changes that may occur in the composition and characteristic of MSW with time in planning for future MSW management systems. All programs relative to MSW reduction management are worthy of notice.