Puli sanitation team leader Chen Chun-hung retires after 44 years, recalling waste crises

Chen Chun-hung, the dedicated leader of the Puli Township sanitation team, is retiring after an extensive 44-year career in public service. For over seven years, Chen helmed the sanitation department, navigating numerous challenges that tested the town's waste management capabilities.

His tenure was marked by significant waste crises, including a notable incident involving "radiation diapers" found in the garbage. This discovery prompted intervention from the Atomic Energy Council, highlighting the unexpected dangers sanitation workers can face. The situation underscored the complexities of managing hazardous waste within the municipal system.

Chen's time as team leader also coincided with a period when the sheer volume of uncollected waste created a dramatic landscape. In one instance, newlyweds chose to take their wedding photos amidst a towering "garbage mountain," a scene that captured national attention and drew focus to Puli's waste management struggles. His retirement marks the end of an era for the town's public works.