Sustainability
Water Reclamation
SDGs
Overview
Water is scarce in Taiwan, so we recycle every drop up to four times.
Water is an essential resource for life and one of the main natural resources used by the semiconductor industry. In Taiwan, extreme weather has resulted in uneven rainfall, and only 21% of rainwater can be effectively utilized — making water supply a huge challenge for both Taiwan and the industry. To mitigate climate risks, ASE established the industry's largest water recycling facility in Kaohsiung, using chemical treatment methods to treat wastewater from our facilities. We now recycle each drop of water four times to meet our operations' needs and maximize conservation, which also frees local authorities to deploy the city's water reserves for households, agriculture and other purposes.
Maximizing water usage
Investment and process recycling let us reuse each drop of water more than four times.
ASE Kaohsiung invested NT$1.15 billion to complete Phases 1 and 2 of its water recycling plant, which can process up to 30,000 tons of water per day at a 75% recycling rate — recovering 22,500 tons. By April 2025, ASE Kaohsiung had saved more than 40 million tons of water. ASE Chungli invested NT$153 million in an effluent reclamation system with a daily capacity of nearly 7,000 tons at a 70% recycling rate, reusing 4,900 tons in the process.
We have also improved water recycling across processes and facilities — cutting and grinding wastewater, cleaning water, air-conditioning condensate and rainwater recycling — resulting in the reuse of each drop of water more than four times.
1ST & LARGEST IN TAIWAN
Built in 2012 and expanded since, the plant now recycles at 75%.
To address water challenges and support expansion, ASE began building a large-scale recycling facility in Kaohsiung Nanzih Technology Park in 2012. Phase 1 began operating in April 2015 with a daily capacity of 20,000 tons and a 50% recycling rate; Phase 2 was completed in 2019. In 2023, by optimizing biological treatment, automating sludge discharge and enhancing UF and RO recycling systems, we raised the recycling rate to 75%. The ASE Chungli effluent reclamation system began operating in June 2015 (7,000 tons/day, 70%), with expansion completed in 2019. Improving water efficiency reduces tap-water consumption and wastewater discharge and its environmental impact.
Environmental education
Our Green Technology Education Center brings water recycling to life.
The ASE Green Technology Education Center at the lobby of our Recycling Plant (K14) educates and promotes awareness of water conservation. It hosts visits from schools and business enterprises, and uses technology such as AR powered by a fast 5G mmWave network to give visitors an immersive, enjoyable learning experience of water recycling and sustainability.
