Taiwan Buddhist assembly achieves 'zero trash' with 6,000 volunteers

An impressive "zero trash" achievement marked the National Buddhist Offering Assembly in Changhua, Taiwan, which gathered 18,000 participants and approximately 5,300 monks. The event, held at the Changhua County Stadium, was lauded for its remarkable cleanliness, a feat accomplished through the dedication of 6,000 volunteers.

The success in maintaining a spotless venue was largely due to a unique approach: each of the 232 dining tables had a designated volunteer attendant. These "attendants" were tasked with continuously clearing their tables, managing waste, and ensuring no litter fell to the ground. They carried plastic bags to collect wrappers and any discarded items, immediately picking up anything that did drop, thereby keeping both the tables and the floor immaculate.

Lin Guo-hua, the event's chief organizer, highlighted that environmental standards are increasingly high, requiring volunteers to undergo a month of training. Beyond just waste sorting, the focus is on reducing waste at its source, which includes encouraging the use of reusable cups. The system of dedicated table attendants proved highly effective for rapid venue cleanup and waste classification, contributing to the overall success of this significant religious gathering.

Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei noted that this event has been held for 36 years. The county government also organized a vegetarian food festival alongside the assembly. She expressed hopes that the religious gathering, occurring during typhoon season, would bring blessings to Changhua, protecting it from wind and rain disasters and ensuring peace for all industries.