Recyclables plummet into a cold winter! Hsinchu City extends warmth to care for individual resource recyclers

This year (2018), the resale prices of recyclables have continued to fall, and individual resource recyclers are facing an unprecedented cold winter. In February, the Hsinchu City Government launched the third-year action plan of the "Recycling Army" winter warmth program. Environmental Protection Bureau Director Chiang Sheng-jen, on behalf of Mayor Lin Chih-chien, presented red envelopes to the individual recyclers, wishing them "happiness for sure in 2018." The city government continues to care for the disadvantaged and look after elderly individual resource recyclers, and will successively hire 40 individual recyclers who are from low- and middle-income households, have physical or mental disabilities, or are aged 60 or above to form the "Recycling Army" to help carry out resource recycling and environmental maintenance work. In addition to guaranteeing a basic income of 3,267 yuan per month, labor insurance is also provided, putting the government's warm care into practice.

Director Chiang Sheng-jen explained that over the past 20 years, the individual resource recyclers who have contributed quietly are an important part of the resource recycling system, but are also a disadvantaged group often forgotten by society. The Environmental Protection Bureau continues to care for and track the 464 individual resource recyclers in the city. Through surveys and by matching them with resources donated by private enterprises, it provides safety supplies such as work gloves, reflective vests, sleeves, and handcarts, taking concrete action to care for workplace safety and reminding them to wear safety equipment while working in order to reduce occupational injuries.

Sixty-six-year-old elderly individual recycler Father Tsai, who lives in the East District, said that recyclable prices have recently plummeted, causing a sharp drop in income that has already affected basic living. He is very happy to have the opportunity to join the ranks of the Recycling Army. Although the money is not much, it can ease a lot of financial pressure, and he is very grateful for the warm help of the city government's benevolent policy.

Mayor Lin Chih-chien said that continuing to care for and help the disadvantaged so they are no longer alone is a key task that the city government team keeps working on. In the year before last (2016), the "Recyclables Winter Warmth Program" was launched, benefiting 9 people in total with 181,000 yuan in warmth assistance. Last year (2017), 44 individual recyclers were hired, rooting resource recycling work in neighborhood and community levels. This year, funding was successfully secured to hire 40 individual recyclers to form the "Recycling Army" to help carry out resource recycling and environmental maintenance work, with an hourly wage of 140 yuan, a maximum of 25 working hours per month, a self-paid labor insurance premium of 233 yuan, and an increase of 3,267 yuan in monthly income.