To boost the environmental quality of Green Island and Orchid Island, the Taitung County Environmental Protection Bureau implemented a waste transfer program for the islands during 2025 that removed a total of more than 2,300 metric tons of waste, significantly relieving local waste storage pressure. The bureau emphasized that while waste transfer is a necessary ultimate measure, the true key lies in reducing and properly sorting waste at the source. Only through a joint effort by residents and visitors to reduce single-use products and carbon-producing activity can the islands’ ecosystems be protected and a sustainable future achieved.
The Taitung County Government stated that environmental protection on the islands is a core task in advancing the slow economy and achieving the UN’s SDGs, and expressed appreciation for financial support from the Ministry of Environment, which made the waste transfer possible. As the county’s incineration facility has become increasingly proficient in its operations, waste from the islands can now be transported to the mainland for treatment, reducing the need for transfers to other counties, improving efficiency, and achieving carbon reduction. Nevertheless, raising public environmental awareness and implementing waste reduction and sorting at the source remain the most critical factors.
According to statistics, 1,146 and 1,162 metric tons of waste were transferred respectively from Orchid Island and Green Island last year, both exceeding the original target of 1,000 metric tons for each island. This not only effectively freed up landfill space but also ensured uninterrupted waste removal. However, the bureau reminded the public that waste treatment is merely the final step in environmental protection. Only by reducing and properly sorting waste in daily life can the environmental burden on the islands truly be diminished.
The bureau is calling on the public to protect the islands by starting with everyday acts, such as visitors bringing their own personal toiletries and everyone using reusable tableware and cups. With limited local resources, every bit of reduction in waste contributes significantly to environmental sustainability. Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to properly sort waste so that recyclable materials will indeed be recycled and thus reduce the amount of trash that has to be transferred.
