Taiwan's ITRI transforms fishing waste into reusable materials

台灣工研院將漁業廢棄物轉化為可再利用材料

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ocean Affairs Council announced on Thursday that the Industrial Technology Research Institute has turned foam fishing floats into plastic pellets suitable for manufacturing, according to a press release.

The Ministry of the Environment's 2024 statistics show that fishing waste accounts for up to 70% of coastal waste, with foam floats responsible for 31.5% of the trash. Distant-water fishing uses floats that are later thrown away, burned, or buried.

The council said it used a two-pronged approach. It subsidized ITRI to convert foam into reusable thermoplastics and incentivized fisheries to use less foam and turn in disposed gear.

The council said its departments coordinated the effort by connecting authorities with fishing enterprises and recycling facilities. It noted that wharves now have collection sites, with disposables labelled and tracked.

The council said the institute is currently doing test manufacturing. It said that aside from recycling and reusing, it is encouraging consumers to use daily necessities made from reclaimed plastics.