Little Liuqiu's Recycling Collection Tender Fails 15 Times; Pingtung County Government: Township Office Incapable and Negligent

(Central News Agency, reporter Li Hui-ting, Pingtung County, July 1) Little Liuqiu in Pingtung experienced 9 failed tenders for garbage collection in 2024, and this year faces 15 failed tenders for recycling collection, with 1,500 metric tons awaiting transport. The Pingtung County Government stated today that the Liuqiu Township Office is incompetent and negligent. Another tender will be held on the 7th, and if it fails, the county government will intervene.

The Liuqiu Township Office held the "115th Year Pingtung County Liuqiu Township Island Resource Recycling Collection Work Plan" yesterday. Due to no companies bidding, the tender failed for the 15th time, accumulating 1,500 metric tons of recyclable materials on the island. The Pingtung County Government held a press conference today stating that the Liuqiu Township Office is severely incompetent and negligent.

Yan Xing-yuan, Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, explained at the meeting that this is not the first time the Liuqiu Township Office has faced a garbage crisis. In 2015, 350 tons of garbage on the island were assisted in collection by the county government. In 2024, garbage collection tenders failed 9 times, accumulating over 600 tons of garbage on the island, which was also eventually assisted in collection by the county government. Investigations revealed the involvement of "environmental cockroaches." Unexpectedly, this year the recycling collection problem has occurred again, with 15 failed tenders and 1,500 tons of recyclable materials accumulated.

Yan Xing-yuan mentioned that the responsibility for clearing recyclable materials lies with the township and city offices. According to the Local Autonomy Act, "the Liuqiu Township Office can solve this itself." Facing the upcoming peak tourist season and considering environmental hygiene and resident health issues, the township office will hold another tender on the 7th. If it fails, "we will have no choice but to step in to assist such a negligent and incompetent township office."

Furthermore, Yan Xing-yuan emphasized that so far, it has been impossible to contact the Liuqiu Township Chief or the township office's cleaning team leader. Only one cleaning team member is in contact with the county government. A Central News Agency reporter called Liuqiu Township Chief Chen Guo-zai, but the call was transferred to voicemail, and no response could be obtained.

The County Government's Department of Government Ethics stated that it will investigate the entire tender process and the reasons for the failed tenders, including any potential bid rigging, collusion, or obstruction of bidding. All findings will be transferred to the judicial authorities for investigation. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150701

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