Miaoli County Aims to Become a Model City for Circular Materials; Introducing Tech at Lantern Festival

Central News Agency, Miaoli, May 25. Responding to circular economy and net-zero carbon policies, the Miaoli County Government announced today that it will introduce recycled asphalt, circular materials, and low-carbon construction methods into public facilities and the construction of the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival site in Miaoli, aiming to become a model city for the application of circular materials. Taiwan generates approximately 12 million tons of asphalt waste annually. Due to regulations, the addition of such material to hot-mix recycled asphalt concrete is limited to 40%, leading to issues with waste disposal. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has developed a green process that decomposes, restores, and separates aged asphalt from asphalt blocks, achieving 100% recycling. In 2024, in cooperation with Miaoli's Lian-Yue Sand and Gravel Enterprise, they built Taiwan's first demonstration plant for asphalt waste separation. Currently in trial operation, it can process about 80,000 tons of asphalt waste annually, reducing carbon emissions by 4,445 tons per year. The Miaoli County Government held a press conference today on 'Recycled Asphalt Circular Application Policy.' County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin, ITRI Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories Deputy Director Wan Hao-peng, and others attended to declare the promotion of high-value circular materials. Chung pointed out that as countries worldwide push for net-zero and circular economy, local governments face challenges in waste disposal. The technology developed by ITRI won the 2026 Edison Awards Gold Medal, representing international recognition of Taiwan's technology. For the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival, recycled asphalt pavement will be prioritized for parking lots, temporary facilities, and traffic routes. The county government will continue to collaborate with ITRI, central ministries, and private enterprises to establish a Miaoli circular materials promotion platform, aiming to become a model county for circular economy.