Taiwan is now actively establishing "environmental science and technology parks" in response to the growing global emphasis on environmental protection. The parks will kick start the development of green industries, set up a sustainable society and offer new opportunities in the global environmental market. The roadmap for environmental science and technology parks in Taiwan is defined as "industry synergy, resource sharing, information sharing, shared risks". The three main axes of development are "high-level resource recycling technology", "high-level environmental protection technology" and "ecological industries". The parks will seek partnerships with high-level environmental technology companies from all around the world to create a model environmental science and technology park that is low-pollution and high added value while successfully balancing production, lifestyle and ecology.
The 2004 environmental protection statistics showed that 1392,000 tonnes of resources were recycled by the relevant organizations in 2004, representing an overall recycling rate of 20.11%. Control center statistics indicated that 12.401,900 tonnes of industrial waste were reported in 2004, with 7,815,400 reported as having been recycled. This translated to a reuse rate of 63%. In other words, there is still much room for improvement in the recycling and reuse of resources. Factors such as the lack of industry reuse arrangements, reuse costs, technology and pollution control have hampered effects to recycle reusable resources in Taiwan. These end up in the waste disposal system instead where they not only go to waste but also impose a huge burden on disposal facilities and expenses. This kind of dual economic loss does not conform to the national policy of sustainable development. Recycling is therefore a high priority.
Taiwan is highly dependent on foreign trade so ensuring that environmental protection practices in Taiwan meet international standards becomes very important. Taiwan's promotion of environmental science and technology parks is intended to encourage the recycling of reusable resources, introduce high-level recycling technologies and expertise and encourage innovative R&D in domestic environmental protection industries. This will in turn, support the creation of industry recycling loops as well as improvements in cleaning and resource technology. By first selecting an appropriate site for an environmental science and technology park, advanced technologies, industries and research organizations can be introduced to promote recycling. Sustainable eco-cities built on resource recycling principles can also be developed to achieve a balance between industry, lifestyle and ecology.
The creation of circulatory "environmental science and technology parks" will not only encourage the reuse of waste products but also encourage private investment. This will solve the problem of idle industrial park land, unemployment and stimulate the development of emerging environmental industries. More development opportunities will become available, energizing the economy and creating more jobs. The creation of a sound investment environment will draw well-known international companies to Taiwan as well. Through technical exchanges and partnerships, the technical proficiency of the domestic environmental industry can be improved. The international competitiveness of Taiwanese industries will be enhanced as a result, creating new business opportunities that will help realize the national goal of sustainable development.
The Taoyuan Environmental Science and Technology Park is southwest of the Taoyuan Science Park within the Tangwei District. It covers 31 hectares. Taoyuan's industries include six major ones: cleaner manufacturing and clean technical industry, recycling and bio-technical industry, applicable regeneration industry, emerging and strategic environmental technology industry, regenerating energy industry and critical environmental protect industry.
Highway:
Railway:
15 minutes to the High Speed Rail
Air Transport:
Taoyuan International Airport (20km, 15 min)
Sea Transport:
Guantang Industrial Harbor 0 min
Taipei Harbor 40 mins
The Tainan Environmental Science and Technology Park is located within the Liuying Industrial Park and covers 30 hectares. Manufacturing makes up the backbone of the local industries, including metal, plastics, textile, food and electronic appliances.
Highway:
Air Transport:
1 hour from Tainan Airport.
Kaohsiung City Benjhou Industrial Park: The site covers 40 hectares and is located in the traditional heartland of southern Taiwan's metal, steel and petrochemical industries. The development focus here is on renewable resources, critical environmental components and resource recovery technologies.
Highway:
Railway:
Taiwan Railway (3km away)
Mass Transit:
Kaohsiung MRT extension
Air Transport:
Siaogang Airport (20km away)
Tainan Airport (20km away)
Sea Transport:
Kaohsiung Harbor (20km away)
Hualien County Fonglin Industrial Zone: Site covers 22 hectares and is currently a hub of stone and cement industries. Current planning calls for biotechnology and stone recycling.
Land Transport:
Eastern Expressway, No.9 Taiwan Provincial Highway, Northern Link Railway
Sea Transport:
Hualien Harbor still has 1.7 million tonnes of spare shipping capacity for the park industries to use.
Air Transport:
Hualien Airport has been upgraded to an international airport and will become the air transshipment hub for eastern Taiwan.
For more information, please visit: The Environmental Science and Technology Park in Taiwan.
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Department of Investment Services, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.
Department of Investment Services, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.