Environmental Groups Urge Diversion of PVC and Foil-Plastic Waste from Incinerators; Ministry Reviews Regulations

Taiwan Watch Institute raised concerns over everyday waste disposal, noting that widely used PVC items such as cables, tarpaulins, and stationery generate hydrochloric acid gas and toxic dioxins when burned in incinerators. The group urged the Ministry of Environment to establish diversion mechanisms for high-chlorine waste. Additionally, regarding foil-plastic composite packaging, which totals approximately 600,000 tons annually, the group stated that recovery technologies are mature enough to separate plastic from aluminum, and the aluminum component can serve as raw material for cement plants. In response, the Ministry of Environment's Resource Circulation Administration stated that PVC packaging is already banned by regulation, while restricting other PVC items requires cross-ministerial coordination with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. For foil-plastic materials, existing recycling mechanisms are active among major industrial manufacturers, and policies will initially focus on the industrial sector due to lower relative volumes in municipal waste.

Key takeaways

• Taiwan Watch Institute urged the Ministry of Environment to divert PVC from incinerators to prevent the generation of hydrochloric acid gas and dioxins.
• The group highlighted that aluminum separated from foil-plastic composites can serve as raw material for cement manufacturing.
• The Ministry of Environment responded that PVC packaging is banned, further bans require inter-departmental talks, and aluminum-plastic recovery targets industries first.