ROC embassies in South Pacific help deal with garbage problem

In the old days, most of the garbage produced on the South Pacific islands were food leftovers and biodegradable items made from natural materials. However, with increased contact with the developed world came imports of electrical appliances, vehicles and plastic utensils.

This has resulted in a serious environmental problem because the island countries still lack the knowledge and resources to process trash, according to a Taiwanese volunteer who has worked in Tuvalu.

Wu Yu-chuan, a volunteer recruited by Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund, said her work in the Pacific island countries is focused on helping them to deal with the trash problem.

On the islands that lack garbage processing facilities and recycling techniques, the best assistance Taiwan can offer is to help promote environmental protection awareness, and at the same time, to teach the islanders how to recycle and properly process garbage, she said.

The ROC's embassy in Tuvalu, for instance, has contacted the Ministry of Education and the Department of Health in Taipei to join the embassy's efforts to sponsor an eco-bag designing contest, implement a garbage processing project, and introduce a composting plan.

"We have set a target of reducing household garbage by 85 percent, " said ROC's ambassador to Tuvalu James C.K. Tien, noting that there has been step-by-step progress.

Tuvalu is the first among Taiwan's six diplomatic allies in the South Pacific to have started the garbage reduction project, and the ROC government is hoping that the Tuvalu experience will soon expand to other island countries, according to Tien.

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