New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau Director Cheng Dawei delivered a special report at a city council meeting on August 13th. He stated that in response to daily environmental challenges and the international trend toward net-zero sustainability, the EPA is leveraging technology to upgrade environmental services, strengthening environmental governance in areas such as resource recycling, pollution inspections, and energy conservation and sustainability. The report noted that the EPA is leveraging data management, AI recognition, and big data integration to make environmental protection efforts more immediate, smarter, and more responsive to public needs, demonstrating its intelligent upgrade capabilities for "zero-distance environmental services, zero-tolerance environmental protection, and zero-burden environmental sustainability."
Mayor Hou Youyi stated that the Environmental Protection Bureau, upholding the principle of "being on the front lines of environmental protection, safeguarding every day," is pragmatically promoting various initiatives on environmental issues of public concern. From the implementation of village environmental certification in all 805 villages to the nationwide beach and sea cleanup campaign, grassroots initiatives are being demonstrated. Improvements in air quality and river pollution in New Taipei City are evident, with PM2.5 concentrations dropping to 11.7 μg/m³ and the percentage of severely polluted Tamsui River falling significantly to 0.5%. Illegal waste disposal is being thoroughly tracked and removed through audits, achieving simultaneous source control and land restoration.
Resource recycling increased by 53% compared to 2019. Districts have achieved remarkable results in promoting plastic-free living, recycling upgrades, and energy transitions. The Energy-Saving E-Good Homes campaign has reached 422 communities, and the public sector leads the nation in vehicle electrification. Environmental education continues to deepen its presence in schools and communities, with over 550,000 people participating in environmental activities. Environmental improvement requires sustained effort, shifting citizens from passive acceptance of services to active participation. By combining innovative efficiency with public opinion, we can jointly promote environmental sustainability.
Cheng Dawei stated that in recent years, the Environmental Protection Bureau has fully utilized the five environmental forces to promote various environmental policies, achieving tangible environmental results for the public. Based on the principle of upgrading intelligent management, the Bureau will enhance intelligent customer service functions in the clean energy sector to further enhance public services. Regarding law enforcement, the Bureau will continue to deepen the application of digital technology in environmental governance, continuously improve inspection capabilities, and further enhance law enforcement efficiency. Carbon reduction efforts will be further upgraded through technology, with the government, businesses, and the public collaborating to achieve mutual benefit and develop new trends in the future of innovative energy.
In terms of "zero-distance service" resource recycling, the Environmental Protection Bureau continues to improve the transparency of garbage classification and transportation information, including creating the nation's first "New Taipei Easy Check", which provides more than a thousand recycling query functions and has been used by more than 1.2 million people in total; and developing a 24-hour "huge furniture online reservation system" to significantly improve service efficiency and public welfare benefits.
The New Taipei City Garbage Truck Inquiry Network and app provide real-time collection and transportation information, along with an exception notification function and an elderly-friendly interface, resulting in an on-time delivery rate of 95%. Furthermore, Taiwan's first AI-powered recycling sorting plant has increased sorting efficiency fivefold, reducing carbon emissions by 273 metric tons annually. The introduction of smart recycling stations and prime recycling stations creates a win-win for the environment, convenience, and public welfare.
In the "Zero Tolerance for Pollution" campaign, the Environmental Protection Bureau has expanded its AI surveillance system, installing 1,176 surveillance cameras citywide. These systems incorporate image recognition and license plate matching technology, achieving an accuracy rate of 90%, effectively improving the efficiency of violation detection and addressing hotspots by 25%. Regarding river pollution, a comprehensive water quality monitoring network has been established, incorporating three key monitoring strategies: data, speed, and technology. This allows for real-time identification of anomalies and automatic activation of response mechanisms.
In terms of air quality, the Fire Department collaborated with the Fire Department to achieve a national first, completing a fire simulation prediction within five minutes and broadcasting it live. This was combined with 950 air quality sensors to conduct reverse trajectory analysis, rapidly tracing pollution sources. Regarding noise prevention, a smart construction site monitoring system and voiceprint monitoring technology were introduced, fostering cross-departmental collaboration to combat illegal modifications and construction noise. Reports of noisy vehicles have decreased by 25% compared to last year.
To promote sustainable energy conservation with a "zero burden" approach, the Environmental Protection Bureau is leveraging innovative technologies to integrate industry, government, and academia to build an energy conservation governance system. The "Energy Saving E-Butler" program uses non-invasive AI technology to provide customized energy conservation recommendations for households. This program has been piloted in 119 communities, achieving summer electricity savings of up to 9%.
The "Energy-Saving E-Good Home" program, through building energy efficiency grading and a real estate disclosure system, aims to guide the public in purchasing energy-efficient homes. Currently, 422 communities have participated. Furthermore, efforts are underway to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and the development of charging infrastructure. Diverse energy initiatives, such as campus carbon inventories, community microgrids, and hydrogen energy demonstration zones, are being introduced, demonstrating the city's multi-sector carbon reduction initiatives.
Cheng Dawei emphasized that the company will continue to prioritize "technology, intelligence, and big data" to promote intelligent customer service, decision-making systems (such as the EIMP environmental information integration platform), and upgrade real-time monitoring equipment, accelerating the digital transformation of environmental governance. Through a three-pronged effort involving government leadership, business response, and citizen participation, carbon reduction initiatives will become part of daily life, working together toward the sustainable goal of net zero emissions and safeguarding New Taipei City every day.
Source: 民眾網
Website: 環境永續淨零 新北環保局智能管理守護市民
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