TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's parliament convened an emergency meeting Monday (Dec. 15) to address the island's escalating garbage mountain crisis. The Legislative Yuan's (立法院) Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (社會福利及衛生環境委員會) summoned officials from the Ministry of Environment (MOEN, 環境部) to report on current waste disposal measures. The meeting comes as Taiwan struggles to manage mounting waste accumulation across multiple counties.
Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) revealed that Taiwan still faces 33 exposed garbage mountains across the island. Typhoon debris and food waste have overwhelmed existing processing capabilities, creating the current crisis. MOEN data shows Taiwan's exposed garbage reached approximately 608,000 metric tons as of late November. Hsinchu County, Tainan City, and Nantou County account for 444,000 metric tons, representing 73% of the total waste accumulation.
Peng noted the ministry initially aimed to reduce exposed garbage to 410,000 metric tons by year's end, but typhoon debris disrupted this target. The MOEN is now studying Japan's post-disaster management strategies for large-scale temporary waste storage. Peng said the ministry plans to introduce a management plan by late February, targeting full management of exposed garbage by end of 2026. Taiwan has already reduced garbage mountains from 53 to 33 since last year. ◼