TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau is encouraging residents to adopt greener worship practices as the month-long Ghost Festival begins Thursday, offering alternatives to the traditional use of makeshift wire cages and portable burners for joss paper.
The bureau recognized the importance of the folk festival but said traditional worship practices do not have to come at the expense of the environment. One alternative is the centralized collection and burning of joss paper in municipal incinerators equipped with modern air pollution control systems, per a press release.
The burning of joss paper produces smoke and fine particulate matter, including PM2.5, which can affect public health, according to the bureau. Use of the city's service involves dedicated vehicles for the collection and transport of joss paper.
The bureau also encouraged residents to donate money they would otherwise spend on joss paper to charities, which can be accessed through kiosks at convenience stores. Such charitable acts can preserve the spirit of honoring gods and ancestors while benefiting society and promoting sustainability, the bureau said.
During the monthlong Ghost Festival, temples, markets, commercial districts, and residential communities across Taiwan hold frequent ceremonies, resulting in increased amounts of waste and recyclable materials. The bureau urged residents to sort recyclable materials after worship ceremonies and dispose of food waste in designated containers.
For edible offerings, residents are encouraged to share such items with family and friends or store them for later use. Residents should also follow regularly scheduled garbage collection times and avoid leaving worship-related waste in unauthorized locations, per the press release.
Additionally, Taichung sanitation teams will strengthen environmental patrols and garbage collection throughout the Ghost Festival. Special efforts will be made to patrol temples, markets, night markets, commercial districts, and major roads.
