TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwanese government has approved a grant of over NT$100 million (US$3 million) to Yilan to construct a fly ash washing plant, anticipated to begin operations in April 2026.
The county government secured a budget of NT$122 million for construction at its Letzer Incineration Plant. The project seeks to address the increasing problem of fly ash disposal and decrease reliance on landfills, per CNA.
Fly ash is produced when waste is incinerated. It is classified as a hazardous waste due to its high levels of dioxins, chlorine, and heavy metals, according to the Environmental Information Center.
There are currently no methods for reusing fly ash. It is primarily disposed of through stabilization and landfill burial.
The Letzer Incineration Plant, the county's major waste incineration facility, processes 600 metric tons (600,000 kg) of waste daily, producing approximately 15 metric tons of fly ash.
To manage the fly ash, it is solidified with cement and transported to the Suao Landfill. An average of 24 metric tons of solidified fly ash is disposed of at the landfill daily. The landfill is projected to reach full capacity within five years.
Once operational, the new fly ash washing plant will be capable of processing approximately 20 metric tons of fly ash per day. Following treatment, the washed fly ash can be used as a substitute for natural sand and gravel in the cement industry.
This is estimated to provide around 5,500 metric tons of fly ash annually for cement production.