Nantou County Plans Waste Incinerator; Self-Help Association Proposes Sustainable Alternatives

The Nantou County Government convened a second-stage environmental impact assessment (EIA) scope definition meeting on April 14 for the planned 'Nantou County Waste Treatment and Renewable Energy Center' in Xinmin Village, Mingjian Township. The Mingjian Township Anti-Incinerator Self-Help Association and hundreds of local residents expressed strong opposition, proposing sustainable alternatives such as waste reduction, classification, resource recycling, and enhanced regional cooperation, rather than relying solely on a single incineration facility. Nantou County currently does not possess its own waste incinerator and depends on other counties for waste disposal. Previous EIA meetings for this project had faced conflicts, leading to this continuation meeting. Environmental groups challenged the meeting's legitimacy due to alleged insufficient attendance and procedural issues. Shih Chih-chung, head of the self-help association, highlighted the potential negative impact on Mingjian Township's agricultural products, including tea, dragon fruit, yam, and pineapple, and the livelihoods of farmers. Mingjian Township Mayor Chen Han-li criticized the county government for scheduling intensive meetings, forcing farmers to repeatedly interrupt their agricultural work. Wen Shih-cheng, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for Nantou County Magistrate, opposed the Mingjian incinerator but stressed the need for autonomous waste treatment. He suggested a 'cocktail therapy' approach: increasing recycling rates, promoting food waste resource utilization, coordinating with the Nankang Resource Utilization Center for inter-county waste transfer, and revitalizing existing private incinerators through public-private partnerships. Wang Wan-yu, Chairperson of the New Power Party (NPP), emphasized Mingjian Township's significance as a tea production area and a habitat for endangered species like leopard cats. She argued that the incinerator would threaten residents' well-being and proposed source reduction and diverse solutions. She accused the Nantou County Government, led by Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua, of acting as a 'public relations company for incinerators' and using procedural tactics to suppress public participation. Li Yi-shu, Director of the Nantou County Environmental Protection Bureau, responded that the county government is already implementing many of the proposed 'cocktail therapy' measures, including waste reduction, recycling, and planning a food waste treatment plant in Nankang Industrial Zone capable of processing 30-50 tons daily. He affirmed that 'regional cooperation' is ongoing, with annual visits to other counties to secure waste disposal capacity. However, he maintained that despite these efforts, waste generation necessitates a final disposal facility, and an incinerator is currently the best option for Nantou, citing existing waste accumulation problems in various counties.