President backs 'cocktail therapy' for Nantou's waste woes; county seeks incinerator

President Lai Ching-te has endorsed a "cocktail therapy" approach to tackling Nantou County's waste problem, proposing it as an alternative to constructing a new incinerator. Speaking at an event marking the resumption of the Checheng Line of the Alishan Forest Railway, Lai suggested that this multi-faceted waste management strategy, advocated by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for Nantou County Magistrate, Dr. Wen Shih-cheng, could resolve the issue without new incineration facilities.

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The 'cocktail therapy' proposed by Dr. Wen Shih-cheng, the DPP candidate for Nantou County Magistrate, is a good method to solve Nantou County's waste problem by breaking it down into smaller parts, without needing to build a new garbage incinerator.

The Nantou County government responded to the President's remarks by thanking him for the reminder and advice. They noted that "cocktail therapy" methods, encompassing source reduction, recycling, and regional cooperation, are already being implemented across various counties. However, the government stressed that many counties, including Nantou, still face significant waste accumulation challenges due to insufficient final disposal capacity. Currently, Nantou County generates approximately 95,000 tons of waste annually. Despite efforts to manage and transport waste externally, an annual shortfall of over 25,000 tons persists, leading to a cumulative accumulation of more than 300,000 tons in landfills to date.

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Thank you, President Lai, for your reminder and suggestions. The so-called cocktail therapy is already being implemented in various counties, including source reduction, resource recycling, and regional cooperation. However, many counties are still facing the dilemma of waste stacking, mainly due to insufficient final disposal capacity.

The county government firmly believes that establishing its own waste treatment infrastructure is crucial for a sustainable solution. They are currently proceeding with relevant public-private partnership planning and environmental impact assessment procedures. The aim is to introduce advanced technology through professional contractors, adhering to the strictest emission standards. The county is appealing for central government support to jointly address the waste issue that has plagued Nantou for over two decades.

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Nantou County needs to build its own waste treatment facilities to solve the long-standing waste problem. We are currently carrying out relevant investment promotion planning and environmental impact assessment procedures, and hope to introduce professional manufacturers and advanced technology through objective scientific argumentation and a responsible attitude, with the strictest emission standards for design, planning, and construction. We also hope that the central government can stand with the local government to jointly solve Nantou County's waste problem accumulated for more than 20 years.