Nantou Plans Waste Incinerator, Minister Urges Consideration of Impact on Tea and Leopard Cats
Nantou County Government plans to establish a waste treatment and renewable energy center in Mingjian Township. Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi expressed concerns, noting the area's importance for hand-shaken drink tea sources and its status as a hotspot for leopard cats and pangolins. He emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture will review land-use change applications based on three principles and urged local governments to consider the impact on agriculture and wildlife protection in their decisions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 11:29
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 12:01 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 12:16 (14 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Tseng Chih-yi, Taipei, April 16) Nantou County Government plans to establish a waste treatment and renewable energy center in Mingjian Township. Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi stated today that the ministry has not yet received any land-use change applications from the local government and adheres to the three principles of reasonableness, necessity, and irreplaceability. However, he emphasized that Mingjian Township is a major source of tea for hand-shaken drinks and a hotspot for leopard cats and pangolins, urging the local government to consider the impact on agriculture and wildlife protection in its relevant decisions.
Nantou County Government held a scoping meeting for the second phase of the EIA for the waste treatment center yesterday. Members of the Mingjian Township Anti-Incinerator Self-Help Association, environmental groups from other counties, and the public attended to express their opposition, leading to a heated discussion at times, with citizens throwing joss paper and one person jumping on the table, resulting in a scuffle with the police.
Chen Chun-chi told reporters at the Legislative Yuan today that multiple private and relevant groups hold different opinions regarding the establishment of an incinerator in Mingjian Township. The Ministry of Agriculture's stance has been explained publicly many times. He stressed that the current 7.5 hectares are all designated agricultural areas, and according to current land-use change regulations, designated agricultural areas cannot be used for other purposes unless there are special circumstances, adhering to the three principles of reasonableness, necessity, and irreplaceability. Currently, the Nantou County Government has not submitted any land-use change applications.
Chen Chun-chi stated that Nantou County is Taiwan's largest tea-producing area, with Mingjian Township being the primary source of tea for daily hand-shaken drinks. If an incinerator is built here, it could cause agricultural environmental pollution in case of unforeseen risks.
Furthermore, he said that the Ministry of Agriculture is also concerned that Mingjian Township is an important habitat for wild animals, a hotspot for leopard cats and pangolins. The Ministry of Agriculture promotes animal protection, and the construction of an incinerator plant could endanger the habitat of wild animals. Therefore, he called on the Nantou County Government to consider agriculture and environmental protection in its policy decisions. The Ministry of Environment has also specifically assisted the Nantou County Government in exploring diversified waste treatment methods, including source reduction. (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150416
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(CNA reporter Tseng Chih-yi, Taipei, April 16) Nantou County Government plans to establish a waste treatment and renewable energy center in Mingjian Township. Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi stated today that the ministry has not yet received any land-use change applications from the local government and adheres to the three principles of reasonableness, necessity, and irreplaceability. However, he emphasized that Mingjian Township is a major source of tea for hand-shaken drinks and a hotspot for leopard cats and pangolins, urging the local government to consider the impact on agriculture and wildlife protection in its relevant decisions.
Nantou County Government held a scoping meeting for the second phase of the EIA for the waste treatment center yesterday. Members of the Mingjian Township Anti-Incinerator Self-Help Association, environmental groups from other counties, and the public attended to express their opposition, leading to a heated discussion at times, with citizens throwing joss paper and one person jumping on the table, resulting in a scuffle with the police.
Chen Chun-chi told reporters at the Legislative Yuan today that multiple private and relevant groups hold different opinions regarding the establishment of an incinerator in Mingjian Township. The Ministry of Agriculture's stance has been explained publicly many times. He stressed that the current 7.5 hectares are all designated agricultural areas, and according to current land-use change regulations, designated agricultural areas cannot be used for other purposes unless there are special circumstances, adhering to the three principles of reasonableness, necessity, and irreplaceability. Currently, the Nantou County Government has not submitted any land-use change applications.
Chen Chun-chi stated that Nantou County is Taiwan's largest tea-producing area, with Mingjian Township being the primary source of tea for daily hand-shaken drinks. If an incinerator is built here, it could cause agricultural environmental pollution in case of unforeseen risks.
Furthermore, he said that the Ministry of Agriculture is also concerned that Mingjian Township is an important habitat for wild animals, a hotspot for leopard cats and pangolins. The Ministry of Agriculture promotes animal protection, and the construction of an incinerator plant could endanger the habitat of wild animals. Therefore, he called on the Nantou County Government to consider agriculture and environmental protection in its policy decisions. The Ministry of Environment has also specifically assisted the Nantou County Government in exploring diversified waste treatment methods, including source reduction. (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150416
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