Taking advantage of the 2013 Mazu Pilgrimage held by Zhenlan Temple in Dajia (大甲鎮瀾宮), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the central government organizes some advocacy activities to promote garage sorting and resource recycling. The general public is encouraged to exchange their waste batteries, waste mercury thermometers, or waste CD for a variety of gifts prepared by EPA and local governments’ Environmental Protection Bureau.
Mazu Pilgrimage is one of the important religious activities in Taiwan. The pilgrimage procession held by the Zhenlan Temple in Dajia goes through four cities/counties (Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Chiayi County) and takes nine days and eight nights (between April 5 and April 14, 2013).This 280-kilometer pilgrimage is always attended by hundreds of thousands of people from home and abroad. In view of the huge amount of waste generated during the pilgrimage procession, the EPA has promoted the "Mazu Pilgrimage Clean Taiwan ”campaign every year since 2008. Of course, the EPA launches the same campaign this year without exception.
Anyone who collects 40waste batteries or 20 button-type batteries can exchange them fora green bamboo fan or a tableware set at the Wenchang Temple in Dajia (大甲文昌祠), Choxing Temple in Qingshui (清水朝興宮), Qingshan Temple in Shalu (沙鹿青山宮), Longjing District Office (龍井區公所) and Tianhe Temple in Dadu (大肚天和宮). Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Bureau of four cities /counties (Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Chiayi County) has also prepared environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, dual-use LED lights and green cups at the 21 recyclables exchange stations along the route of pilgrimage procession. People can also make the exchange there. For more details, please visit the EPA website (http://recycle.epa.gov.tw) or contact the EPA Resource Recycling Hotline 0800-085-717.
The Environmental Protection Agency said that42 tons of recyclables were collected in the 2012 pilgrimage procession and it is expected to collect 46 tons in 2013, a 10% growth over 2012.The EPA urges people not only to participate in the pilgrimage procession with a devout heart but also to protect our environment and recycle any possible resources during the Matsu pilgrimage procession.
For any relevant activity information, please visit the EPA website (http://recycle.epa.gov.tw) or contact the EPA Resource Recycling Hotline 0800-085-717. You are also welcome to visit the EPB websites of Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Chiayi County as well.