Amendment to Waste Disposal Act Includes Renewable Energy Equipment; MOEA: Strengthening Recycling Mechanisms

(Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Yi-hsuan, Taipei, June 17) Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the 'Waste Disposal Act' in a third reading yesterday. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) expressed support for the Environmental Protection Administration's (EPA) legislative efforts, stating that incorporating existing recycling mechanisms into legal management and strengthening the system through extended producer responsibility will ensure a smooth transition between current practices and the post-amendment regulatory framework.

Yesterday, the Legislative Yuan passed the draft amendments to certain articles of the 'Waste Disposal Act.' This amendment includes waste generated from renewable energy power generation equipment after use within the scope of recyclable waste.

The MOEA stated today in a press release that the current recycling mechanism for renewable energy equipment has been operational for many years. For solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, a recycling system has been in place since 2019 (Year 108), requiring installers to contribute recycling fees based on installed capacity. Currently, NT$1,000 per kilowatt is collected to cover future module recycling, transportation, and resource recovery processing.

The MOEA noted that the original system allowed for 10-year installment payments. However, to simplify administrative procedures and implement more efficient and citizen-friendly governance, the system will switch to a one-time fee collection starting July 2026 (Year 115), ensuring that recycling responsibilities and funding sources are pre-planned. Going forward, in coordination with the EPA's amendment to the 'Waste Disposal Act' to include solar PV modules in the regulated recyclable waste category, the MOEA aims to further strengthen recycling and reuse mechanisms through extended producer responsibility.

Regarding wind power equipment, the MOEA mentioned that recycling channels already exist for towers, copper materials, and metal components. For the more challenging composite materials used in turbine blades, the EPA is already collaborating with relevant agencies and research institutions to proactively develop circular utilization technologies and assist industry players in building processing capacity, with plans to proceed with resource recovery processing.

The MOEA reported that Taiwan's cumulative installed renewable energy capacity surpassed 23.7 GW by April 2026 (Year 115), with annual generation reaching 38.6 billion kWh in 2025 (Year 114). The share of renewable energy in total power generation continues to rise, solidifying its role as a key pillar of Taiwan's energy transition.

The MOEA emphasized that while promoting renewable energy development, the government is simultaneously integrating equipment recycling and circular utilization into overall planning, aiming to balance energy security, environmental protection, and industrial sustainability through full lifecycle management. (Edited by Chang Chun-mao) 1150617