Department of Information Technology

With the arrival Ghost Month, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) calls upon the public to take advantage of the “Joss Paper Collection for Collective Burning” service. By accumulating the note batches and delivering them to Neihu Incineration Plant for collective burning, the agency hopes to establish a balance between traditional customs and environmental protection.

Burning joss paper as an offering for ancestors and ghosts is a common practice in Taiwan during Ghost Month. However, the process of burning paper inevitably releases particles into the air. According to statistics from the agency, igniting 1 kilogram of joss paper will release 1.5-kilograms of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the surrounding. That is why the government continues to call upon residents to substitute joss paper with deeds or rice. It also promotes online rituals and joss paper collection service for collective burning.

For individual households which only utilize a small amount of joss paper, they can pick up “Ghost Festival Pudu Joss Paper Bag” or “Sticker for Joss Paper Concentrated Burning” from local borough offices. They can place joss paper offerings into the bag and deliver the content to any of the 32 designated collection sites set up by the agency for collective processing.

As for temples, apartment complexes, organizations, and religious institutions which accumulate large amounts of joss paper for pudu ceremonies, DEP suggests that representatives can download “Taipei City Joss Paper Transport for Collective Burning Pass” from the Chinese website of the Department of Civil Affairs. After filling out the form, they can either bring the spirit money directly to the Neihu Incineration Plant for burning. Alternatively, they can contact local cleanup squads and arrange for pickup three days before the date of the ceremony.

To meet religious requirements, the agency and the Department of Civil Affairs have commissioned the Taiwan Provincial City God Temple to conduct a cleansing and declaration ritual at the Neihu Incineration Plant on August 15.

For those who wish to substitute joss paper with deeds, they can donate the money allocated to purchasing joss paper to charities of their choice. The process can be completed via “Substitute Joss Paper with Deeds” tab available on kiosks at local convenience stores.