University Editing

1.19 Reporting the current status of related activities

April 2, 1991
Dear Mr. Jones,

Acknowledgement of previous correspondence Your fax, dated February 18, regarding your concern about waste exchange and recycling, was much appreciated. As per your request, I would like to briefly describe some of the waste exchange and recycling activities currently underway in Taiwan, R.O.C.

Program background The ROC's waste exchange and recycling program was adapted from the system used in the United States and was put into effect in January of 1988. Initial activities included the establishment of a computerized data file. A bimonthly publication, "Waste Exchange Information, was also founded. This publication not only makes public waste information provided by the industrial sector, but also features the abstracts of recent recycling technology developments in Taiwan. Enclosed please find a copy for your reference.

Challenges in implementing program The industrial sector in Taiwan has undertaken many waste exchange projects in the last couple of years. However, some obstacles persist, owing to the fact that R.O.C. environmental laws and regulations are still under codification. Furthermore, the amount of personnel available to enforce such laws and regulations is insufficient. Promoting the concept that "waste exchange is one of the best choices for waste management" is of priority concern to us. Promotion of this concept will hopefully materialize into meaningful recycle/reuse and pollution abatement practices. Ms. Lin, the current project leader in this area, can provide you with further details.

Current activities I should also tell you that the EPA of the R.O.C. is currently promoting a "Cherish the Land" project that is aimed at establishing a recovery/treatment system for 17 types of wastes. At present, wastes dealt with are PET bottles and discarded tires. You can contact Mr. Lin, Director of the Fourth Division, the Bureau of Solid Waste Control, EPA, R.O.C. (1, Hsiang-Yang Road., Taipei) for further details.

Also, the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has been quite successful in assisting the industrial sector develop better waste minimization practices. Mr. Lee, Deputy Chief of the Seventh Division of the Industrial Development Bureau of the MOEA in Taipei, can clarify any questions you might have regarding these activities.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely yours,

1.20 Reporting the current status of related activities (shorter version of 1.19)

April 2, 1991
Dear Ms. Smith,

Your fax dated March 7 was received with much appreciation. Regarding your information on item 4 of the fax, I would like to introduce waste exchange activities in Taiwan, R.O.C.

Background of activities The waste exchange information services in Taiwan were first offered in 1988 (Please refer to the program of the Fifth North American Waste Exchange Conference). The majority of funding initially came from governmental agencies; the industrial sector contributed only a small portion. These information exchange services have continued to gain respect in the industrial sector.

Difficulties encountered However, local industry was cautious about waste recycling practices, since (a) the codification of environmental laws and regulations in Taiwan had not been fully developed, and (b) the related environmental enterprises (e.g., treatment/storage/disposal facilities and landfill sites) were not quite ready.

Current strategy Because environmental regulations are increasingly stricter, the government has actively promoted industrial waste minimization; we expect the local industrial sector to undertake such practices to a larger extent in the near future.

Information request The Taiwan Waste Exchange Center is particularly interested in acquiring more information about the various management system models of waste exchange, as well as the recycling regulations of other countries. Information regarding successful cases of waste exchange and recycling is also of priority concern.

Please feel free to let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely yours,

1.21 Reporting the current status of related activities

August 25, 1993
Dear Mr. Thompson,

Thank you for your inquiry into the current status of ozone layer protection efforts in Taiwan. I would like to briefly describe some of the related activities undertaken by our organization, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

Organizational background ITRI is a non-proft research and development institute funded primarily by government and industry. Governmental funding is used to develop and perform national mid- to long-term application/research programs, as well as to assist medium and small-sized enterprises. On the other hand, private (industrial) funding is invested in jointly cooperative projects and technical assistance.

Governmental relations In light of the importance of protecting the ozone layer and of the need to alleviate the possible economic impacts of CFC phaseout, the government of the Republic of China has assigned ITRI to conduct a long term project to research application technologies that have been implemented to protect the ozone layer since 1988.

Previous efforts in the area of concern During the past five years, ITRI has published a monthly CFC Newsletter, five volumes of a "Handbook on CFC Utilization," and more than twenty special investigation reports, so as to provide local industries with updated information on alternative technologies. More than twenty seminars on technology development have also been organized by ITRI to assist domestic industries alleviate CFC problems.

ITRI also continuously visits hundreds of industries to collect information on the current status of CFCs and the major obstacles we will face in the future. ITRI also provides promotion and other services related to the reduction and recovery of CFCs and the use of new alternative technologies. Technological developments Major achievements attained so far include the following:
1. Refrigerants
A. Development of a CFC refrigerant recovery machine and successful transfer to four local companies
B. Completion of performance evaluation of automobile air-condition systems and refrigerators with HCFC blends
C. Completion of a feasibility study and computer simulation on replacement of R-12 by R-134a
D. Development of non-CFC mobile refrigerant technology and its successful transfer to ABC Corporation
E. Completion of two sessions of non-CFC refrigerant substitution technology, with 60 attendants
2. Foam blowing
A. Completion of a study aimed at replacing CFC-12 with HCFC-22 on PE/PS foaming
B. Completion of a study of PU integral skin aimed at replacing CFC-11 with HCFC-123 or HCFC-141b
C. Assistance provided to DEF Corporation in their evaluation of the introduction of HCFC-141b on rigid PU refrigerator foam
3. Cleaning
A. Completion of a study of IPC standard tests of electronic test boards
B. Completion of an evaluation of aqueous, semi-aqueous, and no-cleaning processes
C. Establishment of a DEMO Center for electronic cleaning to assist local industry in the evaluation of cleaning effectiveness
D. Successful introduction of a non-cleaning process at five local electronics plants
E. Successful assistance provided during the introduction of an IPA cleaning process to an optical lense plant
4. Chemical analysis and testing for CFCs
A. Development of analytical methods for analyzing CFC residues found in foam products
B. Offering of certification services for the export of foam products
C. Development of an analytical technology for refrigerant purity
ITRI's efforts have resulted in a significant ODS phaseout in Taiwan, with a 30% reduction, in 1992, over that of the base-line consumption level. Enclosed please find two tables summarizing ITRI's major achievements in CFC phaseout for the 1993 Fiscal Year (July 1992 to June 1992). Acknowledgements from the EPA, GHI Corporation, the Tools and Machinery Association, as well as news clippings on ITRI's related work are also appended.

In addition to assisting the government in related policies and regulations (e.g., CFC phaseout strategy, CFC control strategy, and the recycling and reuse of mobile refrigerant CFC-12), ITRI also took an active role in organizing Taiwan's Association of Ozone Layer Protection. In January 1993, the association was established to continue work on ozone layer protection and to integrate resources from industrial associations, research institutes, academia and government agencies.

Related international activities ITRI has also sent delegations to attend the Montreal Protocol Meetings, where our delegations exchanged information and established collaborative relations with representatives from many countries. The R.O.C.'s willingness to participate in global ozone protection efforts, as well as to comply with the Protocol was expressed during those meetings.

I hope that this above information clarifies some of our involvements in the area of ozone layer protection. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Sincerely,