[Life] Carbon Credits Exceed Tree Planting: Waste Wood Transformed into "Biochar" as a Climate Solution
bella@@ 央廣 新聞2h ago
"Circular Economy Dual Laws" accelerate industrial circular transformation and improve resource utilization efficiency. The Ministry of Environment announced today (17th) that in addition to promoting product circularity, to meet the needs of urban forest doubling and agricultural development, it will actively promote the technology of transforming waste wood into "biochar" in the future. International certification confirms it can lock carbon for hundreds of years or more. Besides serving as a circular opportunity for waste wood, it can also become a climate solution. #Radio Taiwan International (RTI) reporter Liu Pin-hsi's interview report#
The Legislative Yuan recently passed the "Circular Economy Dual Laws" in its third reading, legalizing green design and source reduction. The Ministry of Environment also recently released a new "Circular Mark" to encourage businesses to improve product circularity and the proportion of recycled materials used, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Taiwan's circular industry. At a press conference held by the Ministry of Environment on the afternoon of the 17th, Lai Ying-ying, Director-General of the Ministry of Environment's Resource Circulation Administration, stated that in addition to product circularity, the administration is also actively promoting the high-value utilization of woody resources, transforming waste wood into a climate solution.
Lai Ying-ying pointed out that in response to the doubling of urban forests and the needs of agricultural development, our country generates a large amount of woody waste annually, with a total national output of 1.339 million metric tons per year. The utilization rate of residual agricultural wood can reach over 90%, while the utilization rate of pruning branches from street trees and other urban greenery is nearly 60%. Related waste wood is primarily reprocessed into wooden products, paving materials, compost, etc., and secondarily converted into fuel. However, because pruning branches from roadside trees often contain impurities, the cost of recycling and dismantling is extremely high. Therefore, some waste wood is still directly sent to incinerators or landfills, not only wasting resources but also increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Lai Ying-ying stated that the Ministry of Environment will promote the technology of transforming waste wood into biochar (Biochar) in the future. This involves pyrolyzing and cracking waste wood in an oxygen-deficient environment, fixing the "carbon" into a black solid carbon material, which can extend the carbon sequestration period. It is internationally recognized that this biochar technology can lock carbon for hundreds of years or more. She said: "(Original sound) These residual branches pruned from urban areas, and agricultural by-products like bamboo, are low-temperature pyrolyzed and cracked in an oxygen-deficient environment. After being baked, the wood does not burn, meaning it doesn't burn and turn into carbon dioxide released into the air. Then, the carbon is locked into this black solid substance. Currently, there are internationally recognized certification methods, such as Verra, that begin to certify the carbon sequestration period, etc."
Lai Ying-ying pointed out that biochar, with its sponge-like porous structure, can also be applied in soil improvement and water retention, environmental purification and filtration, and circular agriculture, offering both resource circularity and net-zero carbon reduction benefits. The Ministry of Environment will create incentives for corporate participation through initiatives like the Urban Forest Doubling Plan and local development programs. This move will not only solve waste problems but also implement ESG principles, achieving a win-win situation for both the environment and the economy.
Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming stated that the carbon credits from biochar exceed those from planting a tree, and it will be a core strategy for future net-zero carbon emissions and the circular economy. This involves many aspects, and the Ministry of Environment will convene experts from relevant fields to discuss and hopefully successfully develop Taiwan's biochar industry.
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215126
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