A southern Taiwanese county has been getting creative with the ash from its trash incinerators in an effort to improve sustainability. Yunlin County has been transforming this waste into items like plant pots and aroma stones.
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00:00These small plant pots and Roma stones that can brighten up any desk may look like ordinary knick-knacks,
00:08but they are made from something extraordinary, recycled incinerated ash,
00:14giving Redfields renewed life in southern Taiwan's Yunlin County.
00:18The purpose of this project is to increase the recycling of incinerated ash,
00:24and turn it into incinerated ash.
00:26This is also a way to promote the use of incinerated ash.
00:36The county of more than 600,000 people has long grappled with the garbage crisis,
00:42accumulating 150,000 tons of waste by 2024.
00:48Without its own incinerator, Yunlin has to send its trash to another county for incineration.
00:55The ashes are then returned to Yunlin for disposal.
00:59So, through a multi-step process and rigorous testing to make sure it's safe,
01:05the local government has found a way to transform incinerated ash into materials with a wide range of uses.
01:13Like these small creations, the officials are now sharing with residents,
01:18who see it as a win-win, helping the planet while creating a more positive work environment.
01:25Beyond creating small everyday items,
01:28the recycled ash is also being integrated into public construction projects across the region.
01:34Since 2016, more than 300,000 tons of ash have been repurposed,
01:41achieving a 90% reduction in waste.
01:46In the past few years, we have recycled about 300,000 tons of ash.
01:52We hope that people will understand that this waste can be used for other purposes.
02:00For example, it can be used to make food,
02:04it can be used to make medicine,
02:08it can be used to make medicine products,
02:12and it can be used to make products.
02:16The county hopes these efforts will not only showcase the potential of sustainable waste management,
02:23but also inspire broader adoption of circular economy practices across Taiwan.
02:29From essential infrastructure to creative, artful designs,
02:34Yunlin aims to show how sustainabilities can be both practical and beautiful.
02:39Patrick Chan and Billy Wu for Taiwan Plus