The delegation visits the New Taipei City Resource Recycling Education Base to learn about the city’s innovative use of technology in recycling resources.

In 2025, the New Taipei City Government was invited to participate in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) program. Since then, the city has continued to deepen exchanges and cooperation with European cities. The city government received a delegation of experts on the circular economy from Italy and Latvia from June 10 to 13. During the visit, the city government shared its efforts and experiences in promoting the circular economy and net-zero transformation by organizing site visits and workshops, with an aim of further expanding collaborative ties with European partner cities.

The delegation comprised Marino Cavallo, circular economy team leader and professor at the University of Bologna; Ieva Kalnina and Anna Ance Rusvoa Luse, circular economy experts from Riga; as well as representatives from the IURC program. Lukáš Gajdoš, Deputy Head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan, also attended the exchange sessions.


A toy doctor at the Toy Bank explains how to dismantle and reassemble toys, as well as the recycling process.

The New Taipei City Government’s Secretariat arranged for the delegation to visit the New Taipei City Resource Recycling Education Base in Wugu District, where they learned about the AI identification equipment used in recycling and garbage sorting. The delegation also visited the Center for Smart Energy Management on the second floor of the New Taipei City Hall to observe the building’s energy management system. During a visit to the Toy Bank in Banqiao District, the delegation gained insights into the recycling and reuse of secondhand toys. Furthermore, a visit to Singtex® Industrial Co., Ltd in Xinzhuang District showcased to the delegation the enterprise’s innovations in utilizing used coffee grounds for making eco-friendly performance fabrics. On the 13th, the delegation visited the Hong Ying Tao pottery development center in Yingge District to observe how reservoir sediment is used in pottery. These tours allowed the delegation to learn about the city’s reuse of resources and the circular economy.

Furthermore, during an exchange workshop, the Environmental Protection Department of the city government shared how black soldier flies are used in food waste management. This innovative technology gained the attention of the delegation for its contribution to lowering the costs of organic waste management and effectively promoting resource recycling and reuse. In addition, Professor Cavallo shed light on how cities in the EU promote the eco-friendly principle of “repair over replacement” by establishing online and physical repair hubs. He suggested that New Taipei City could incorporate this concept into city governance and residents’ everyday lives. Riga representative Kalnina also shared her city’s achievements in promoting the circular economy and community participation, providing both sides an opportunity to learn from one another.


Director General of the Secretariat and Chief Secretary of the Social Welfare Department of the New Taipei City Government accompany the delegation as they examine various secondhand toys.


The city government and the delegation share their experiences in promoting the circular economy at a workshop. The Environmental Protection Department of the city government presents the use of black soldier flies in food waste management, leaving a deep impression on the delegation.

Hui-Mei Juh, Director General of the Secretariat, said that the city government is dedicated to advancing the circular economy and net-zero transformation. Through cross-agency and public-private collaborations, the city government has continued to elevate the efficiency of resource use, thereby attaining sustainable development goals. These exchanges not only allowed the European partners to learn about New Taipei City’s innovative efforts and achievements in advancing the circular economy, but also formed a constructive foundation for future collaborations.
 
Director General Juh noted that the city government would be attending the upcoming IURC Asia and Australasia program’s thematic workshop as well as the World Cities Summit, taking place in Singapore from June 14 to 16. The city would be presenting the smart energy conservation and green building practices of its Administrative Centers in Banqiao and Sanchong Districts at the workshop. Attending such an event constitutes part of the city’s ongoing efforts to share its governance experience with international counterparts. In the future, the New Taipei City Government will continue to work with global partners in advancing the circular economy and urban sustainable development by deepening its international cooperative network through the IURC platform.


The delegation visits Singtex® Industrial Co., Ltd in Xinzhuang District to learn about the innovation of utilizing used coffee grounds for making eco-friendly performance fabrics.