Taichung's 'Great Wall' of Mattresses Sparks Rat Infestation Fears; Councilor Criticizes Pest Control Efforts
As Taichung City launches a rat prevention program, a city councilor has pointed out a nearly 1-kilometer-long pile of discarded mattresses at a sanitation squad's depot, fearing it has become a rat haven and rendered the recent city-wide cleanup futile. The Environmental Protection Bureau explained that a failed procurement bid has led to a backlog of about 20,000 untreated mattresses annually.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 15:26
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 15:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 16:44 (1h 12m after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA, Reporter Chao Li-yen, Taichung, 18th) — While the Taichung City Government has initiated the 'Taichung NO Rats' prevention plan, KMT City Councilor Lai Chao-kuo pointed out that a massive pile of discarded mattresses, stretching nearly 1 kilometer, has accumulated at the Tanzih District sanitation squad's facility, resembling a 'Great Wall.' He warned that it has become a hiding place for rats, making last week's city-wide cleanup effort a waste of time.
The Taichung City Government launched its 'Taichung NO Rats' plan and held a city-wide cleanup on the 16th, which several DPP city councilors dismissed as a 'staged PR show.' At the Taichung City Council's regular meeting today, KMT Councilor Lai Chao-kuo questioned the effectiveness of the plan, pointing to the massive pile of mattresses in Tanzih.
Lai mentioned that the mattresses, containing metal springs, are semi-waste and semi-resource. Relying on sanitation workers to dismantle them by hand is highly inefficient, as they can only handle a few per day. He argued that this task, which should be outsourced, is now being done manually by city employees, wasting manpower and being uneconomical.
Lai cited the example of Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin, who has instructed the establishment of a county-wide unified processing mechanism for 'waste mattress disposal issues.' Following the experience of Miaoli City, they are promoting the introduction of mechanical shredding equipment to achieve automatic separation of cotton and iron, thereby accelerating mattress disposal efficiency. Lai urged the Taichung government to follow this example.
Lai pointed out that with the discovery of Hantavirus in the north, the city's call for a major cleanup is pointless. He argued that the focus should be on eliminating places where rats hide, and that the city's declaration is more for show than for substantive results.
In response, Environmental Protection Bureau Director Wu Sheng-chung stated that waste mattresses are a resource, as the metal can be recycled. Taichung produces 70,000 waste mattresses annually. Manual processing by regional sanitation squads is difficult, so the work is outsourced to contractors for shredding and sale. However, about 20,000 mattresses remain unprocessed. The previous procurement contract failed, and a second procurement process is now underway as a service contract. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150518
The Taichung City Government launched its 'Taichung NO Rats' plan and held a city-wide cleanup on the 16th, which several DPP city councilors dismissed as a 'staged PR show.' At the Taichung City Council's regular meeting today, KMT Councilor Lai Chao-kuo questioned the effectiveness of the plan, pointing to the massive pile of mattresses in Tanzih.
Lai mentioned that the mattresses, containing metal springs, are semi-waste and semi-resource. Relying on sanitation workers to dismantle them by hand is highly inefficient, as they can only handle a few per day. He argued that this task, which should be outsourced, is now being done manually by city employees, wasting manpower and being uneconomical.
Lai cited the example of Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin, who has instructed the establishment of a county-wide unified processing mechanism for 'waste mattress disposal issues.' Following the experience of Miaoli City, they are promoting the introduction of mechanical shredding equipment to achieve automatic separation of cotton and iron, thereby accelerating mattress disposal efficiency. Lai urged the Taichung government to follow this example.
Lai pointed out that with the discovery of Hantavirus in the north, the city's call for a major cleanup is pointless. He argued that the focus should be on eliminating places where rats hide, and that the city's declaration is more for show than for substantive results.
In response, Environmental Protection Bureau Director Wu Sheng-chung stated that waste mattresses are a resource, as the metal can be recycled. Taichung produces 70,000 waste mattresses annually. Manual processing by regional sanitation squads is difficult, so the work is outsourced to contractors for shredding and sale. However, about 20,000 mattresses remain unprocessed. The previous procurement contract failed, and a second procurement process is now underway as a service contract. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150518