TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Several foodservice operators in Taiwan have strengthened efforts to reduce kitchen waste and introduce waste disposal equipment to cut costs associated with recycling services and prepare for the government’s upcoming ban on using food waste for pig feed.

A pig farm in Taichung reported pig deaths in October due to African swine fever, with the government attributing the cause to improper treatment of food waste fed to the pigs. In response, the government will impose a ban on feeding pigs with food waste starting in 2027, giving farmers one year to adjust their feeding practices. Additionally, it will offer subsidies of up to double the amount to farmers who switch to using animal feed.

The food courts and restaurants at department stores generate large amounts of kitchen waste daily. If recycling companies reduce their services due to the ban, department stores may face higher waste disposal costs and rising waste volume, per CNA.

Far Eastern Department Stores said that it has enhanced its kitchen waste sorting guidelines, excluding items such as fruit peels and shrimp shells from food waste. The company also plans to invest in waste disposal equipment, which can turn food waste into liquid and change non-degradable waste into fertilizer. 

Regent Taipei noted that it has introduced an AI-driven food waste management system and improved its menu to make better use of ingredients. The hotel added the system automatically identifies the type of food being discarded into the waste bin and records its weight, allowing the staff to adjust ingredient quantities accordingly.

FDC International Hotels has also introduced a food waste recycling system that turns dried waste into compost for local farms. The hotel then buys the vegetables grown using this compost, using them in their kitchens to promote a circular economy.