In response to the temporary suspension of food waste as feed on pig farms, Nantou County Government initiated countermeasures and urged the public and restaurants to treasure food to reduce food waste and continue to recycle food waste
As a means to take action against African swine fever (ASF), the suspension of food waste as feed on pig farms has been put on hold from September 1 to September 30. From today (30th), food waste has been banned from entering pig farms. According to the Nantou County Environmental Protection Bureau, Nantou County will cooperate with the instructions of the Central Disease Center and not modify or interrupt its original diverse food waste collection system and removal method. The Bureau has asked the public to treasure food to reduce food waste, as well as draining and dewatering food waste prior to collection by refuse collectors. During this period, people are also reminded to not leave meat or uncooked pork from unknown sources in their food waste bins as these types of meat must be bagged up and put directly into the garbage truck for proper disposal by refuse collectors.
The Bureau said that after discussions and coordination, over a dozen pig farms will work with the government’s policy and continue to collect food waste. Meanwhile, Nantou County authorities, organizations and restaurants will continue to entrust a removal entity (pig farms where pigs are fed food waste) to correctly dispose of their food waste. These pig farms will then collect and transport the food waste to the locations designated by each township office’s refuse collection team of the County. By doing so, the County’s removal and disposal of food waste during this period will not be affected. This also ensures that the original collection system and food waste removal method will not be disrupted in the future. The Bureau asks everyone that produces food waste, pig farmers and food waste removal entities to do their best and cooperate with the government’s disease prevention policy.
According to the Bureau, all environmental protection teams of the County were invited to discuss action plans against the spread of ASF by suspending feeding food waste to pigs for a month on August 27. During the meeting, it was also decided that all food waste collected will be disposed of via simple composting or landfill as alternative solutions. Moreover, all township offices were asked to remove or seal outdoor food waste collection bins in an attempt to prevent people from throwing away any food waste. In addition, food waste generated by business entities (factories, hotels) as prescribed in the Waste Disposal Act must be drained, dewatered and bagged with the general business waste prior to entrusting their original Class B removal agency for disposal. The Bureau asks all business entities and Class B removal agencies to cooperate with this disease prevention measure during this challenging time.
Furthermore, the Bureau stated that, for the few pig farms that cannot continue to collect food waste, the refuse collectors of the township office have been asked to ascertain where these entities are located and include them in their usual collection routes to collect their food waste, or to be collected by a special vehicle. During this period, if any one, authority, organization, hospitality, business, food waste removal entity, or pig farm has any questions regarding food waste collection and its disposal, please call the Bureau at 049-2201456 or 049-2237530-1509. They can also contact their local township offices who will assign personnel to help.
Finally, the Bureau would like to once again remind the public, restaurants, schools and organizations to treasure food to reduce food waste, and take leftovers home to minimize the amount of food waste. For hygiene reasons, leftovers are advised to be drained and dewatered. Do not leave meat or uncooked pork from unknown sources in food waste bins as these types of meat must be bagged up and put directly into the garbage truck for proper disposal by refuse collectors. Through the efforts put in by the government, entities and the public, we hope to stop the spread of ASF in pig farms.