2021-05-28 As part of the Environment Protection Endeavor in Yunlin: “Animal Husbandry Waste for Green Energy and Circular Economy Opportunities,” Yunlin County Government and the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan organized the “Animal Husbandry Waste Recycling and Reuse Demonstration and Press Conference” at the Quan Min Husbandry in Taixi Township on November 3, 2020. Shu-Ya Xie, the Deputy Magistrate; Hung-Teh Tsai, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan; and the attendees witnessed the milestone of the 1500th animal waste recycling and reuse site in Taiwan. Notably, Yunlin County takes the lead with more than 300 registered on file, demonstrating the achievements in facilitating a circular economic model combining animal husbandry and agriculture.

At the event site, more than ten crop varieties cultivated with biogas slurry and residues are presented, and the demonstration from the farmers using the recovered resources, including characteristic wheat grass products and the highly popular taro sweet soup, to show the circulated economy model in great effect. Notably, the site featured the largest “Anaerobic Digester and Biogas Generator” of the County. Ying-Xian Ding, the owner of the site, stated that the whole system costs NT$ 180,000,000, with the components imported from Europe and the United States and assembled at the site. With a volume of approx. 5,000 cubic meters, the anaerobic digestion tank is capable of managing all wastes from the animal husbandry businesses of the town. The tank itself is a sight to behold. Li-Shan Chang, the Magistrate, stated that it is good to see the husbandry owner, who is also a renowned local physician, invest in this biogas generator system. This system as a prospective investment is expected to cover 75% of the animal husbandry waste recycling and reuse capabilities for nearby sites, and provide resources for hydroponic vegetables and crop irrigation. With the EPA’s project fund of around NT$ 28.99 million to encourage the business owners, we’re looking forward to more large-scale husbandry owners joining the endeavor of collective management and green power generation.

After the milestone ceremony, Shu-Ya Xie the Deputy Magistrate, Hung-Teh Tsai the Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, and Ying-Xian Ding the representative of Quan Min Husbandry attended the agreement signature ceremony of the “Collective Management of Animal Husbandry Waste and Ammonia-based Nitrogen Recycling Demonstration Program by Local Government.” Tsai stated that Yunlin County Government is a major supporter of the policy by contributing to seven of the thirteen leading large-scale collective management sites in Taiwan. These seven sites process wastes around 1,190.48 CMD daily (including 351.1 CMD by Ji Mei, 111.6 CMD by He Xin, 125 CMD by Shen Feng, 250 CMD by Ming Yi, 98 CMD by Jie Zhen, 82.38 CMD by Cheng Xin, and 172.4 CMD by Quan Min), and provide 12,412.8 kWh of power (3,342 kWh/d from Ji Mei, 797 kWh/d by He Xin, 594 kWh/d by Shen Feng, 835 kWh/d by Ming Yi, 700 kWh/d by Jie Zhen, 604.8 kWh/d by Cheng Xin, and 5,540 kWh/d by Quan Min). This covers the power consumption of 40 households when calculated with a mean household consumption of 303kWh and shows great efficiency. It is hoped that domestic animal husbandry owners will follow the footsteps of these Yunlin owners. After the ceremony, the “Biogas Slurry and Residue Processor Awards” were given to ten sites, including premium for three sites, excellence for three sites, and outstanding for three sites. This shows the win-win model for local animal husbandry owners and farmers. We’re looking forward to more contributing to the “recycling and reuse system of animal husbandry wastes” for better control of waterway pollution, and to position Yunlin in the lead of environment protection efforts.

In the afternoon of the day, Sheng-Zhong Wu, the Director of the Department of Water Quality Protection, EPA took the lead to visit the wheat field (irrigated by tank truck), the slurry irrigation of cabbage field (through pipes), and gain on-hand experience of slurry and residue application (peanut harvest and tasting) at Yue Guan Xia Environment-friendly Farm in Mailiao Township. In 2019, this farm was matched with Xin-Yi Lin Husbandry by Yunlin County Bureau of Environment Protection to use biogas slurry and residues as fertilizer. In this visit, the representatives from the husbandry and town hall provided the biogas slurry and residue collection vehicle to facilitate the delivery. The visitors also experienced the harvest and cooking of the peanut cultivated with these resources, which is expected to improve public impression and acceptance of such application. The third stop is the Yi Feng Chang Husbandry in Sihu Township. This business site boasts zero sewage discharge as the owner has invested in the delivery pipelines leading to nearby farmers. Thanks to its efficiency and convenience, the farmers now need to make reservations for their deliveries from this “farmer’s partner.”

Shu-Ya Xie the Deputy Magistrate stated that animal husbandry waste recycling and reuse is not a slogan, but a commitment of sustainable and responsible business. As the policy enters the sixth year of implementation, and with many thanks to the collaboration of local authority, animal husbandry business owners, farmers and power generation service providers, it is expected that at least 328 animal husbandry business owners (repetition excluded) will formally join the endeavor of animal husbandry waste recycling and reuse, including 232 sites obtaining approval for supplying biogas slurry and residue as farmland fertilizers, 36 sites obtaining approval for reusing agricultural business wastes, and 79 sites obtaining approval for providing recycled compliant discharge for irrigation. It is expected that animal husbandry waste discharged into waterways can be reduced by 1.615 million tons annually, with the resources benefiting 1,166.5 hectares of farmland, which is equivalent to reducing the need of synthetic fertilizer by 55,977 packs, biological oxygen demand (BOD) by 10,396.1 tons, and suspended solids (SS) by 13,547.2 tons. This not only helps reduce pollution, but the costs and labor of local farmers, and raises their awareness of environment protection. With the endeavor of all Yunlin residents, we expect a future of fertile lands and clean water. We’re looking forward to new animal husbandry partners in Yunlin County for a better environment! For consulting or partner matching, please contact the Department of Water Quality Protection, Environment Protection Bureau at 05-5526255.