Taichung food waste water poured into drains, councilors point out it's not an isolated case, dilemma between returning to base and delaying schedule

A garbage truck in Taichung City was found dumping food wastewater into a roadside drain. City councilors pointed out that this is not an isolated case. Currently, food waste is disposed of alongside regular garbage, causing truck wastewater tanks to overflow and drip along the streets. Returning to the depot to discharge the water causes schedule delays, creating a dilemma for frontline workers. Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin stated that the system and capacity will be reviewed. Following the outbreak of African swine fever last year, the national policy on feeding food waste to pigs shifted. Taichung's current food waste disposal policy is to send it to incinerators with regular trash. Citizens spotted EPA sanitation workers dumping food wastewater into drains. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen announced this morning that the personnel took the easy way out and dumped it on the spot, resulting in a demerit and a fine under the Waste Disposal Act. DPP Councilors Chen Shu-hua and Chen Yu-jung pointed out in today's inquiry that the city lacks a clear food waste disposal policy, making it hard for frontline workers, who resort to pouring the water into drains. Deputy Mayor Cheng replied that dumping wastewater into drains violates regulations. The EPA should investigate whether wastewater is being illegally dumped and proactively track abnormal truck trips. Future disposal plans include black soldier flies and biomass power generation, aiming to align with the central government's new policies by the end of the year. Councilor Chiang Chao-kuo noted that if the driver continues collecting without emptying the full tank, wastewater drips on the street. If they return to the depot, they fall behind schedule. While the driver is at fault, the dilemma stems from the city's failed policy. Councilor Chou Yung-hung added that while frontline violations should be punished, the administration failed to grasp collection capacity, delayed the Waipu Phase 2 project, and stalled incinerator renovations for six years.