Environmental Management Administration

As the new semester approaches, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) reminds schools that food waste generated from centralized school meal services may still be used as feed for pig farming during 2026. However, beginning in 2027, the use of food waste generated on school campuses for pig farming will be completely prohibited. The MOENV calls on schools at all levels and education authorities to adjust school lunch menu planning in advance, actively promote source reduction and food waste prevention through food education, and take measures to reduce the burden of food waste collection, transportation, and treatment following the start of the new school year, while maintaining a clean and hygienic campus environment.

To reduce the burden of subsequent food waste disposal at the source and assist schools in addressing food waste management, on March 6, 2026, the MOENV issued the “Principles for Campus Food Waste Management and Treatment” to the K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education. The guidelines provide schools with specific measures for source reduction, including menu planning, adjustments to meal times, donating surplus food or allowing students to take uneaten food home, and draining excess water from food waste. The guidelines also provide an assessment framework for food waste collection and disposal. In principle, environmental protection authorities are responsible for assisting with the collection and coordinating appropriate outlets for food waste. In addition to following the sorting and disposal procedures prescribed by environmental protection authorities, the most important task for education authorities is to promote healthy and environmentally sustainable diets and implement effective source reduction measures.

According to the MOENV’s nationwide survey of campus food waste collection and transportation practices, food waste management is generally categorized into three models: collection entirely by municipal sanitation teams; collection entirely by contracted meal service providers, and mixed models (collection partly by sanitation teams and partly by meal service providers). Funding for food waste collection and transportation primarily comes from three sources: budgets allocated by county and city governments, food waste management costs incorporated into school lunch fees, or fees collected with water utility charges or services provided free of charge.

The MOENV calls on local governments to develop food waste collection and disposal plans tailored to local conditions. Such plans should ensure that the costs of school lunch programs are kept separate from food waste disposal costs to avoid any adverse impact on the quality of school lunches. Food waste generated by schools is classified as general waste. Environmental protection authorities should, based on the availability and capacity of food waste treatment facilities within their jurisdictions, give priority to arranging for collection by municipal sanitation teams and transport to local food waste treatment facilities. Alternatively, they should assist in coordinating appropriate outlets for food waste to ensure the proper collection and disposal of food waste generated by schools.