Construction Waste Dumped on National Forest Land in Taiwan, 22 Indicted

Authorities in Yunlin County uncover a large-scale operation illegally disposing of building debris on protected land, leading to the prosecution of a waste hauling group.

Authorities in Yunlin County, Taiwan, have indicted 22 individuals, including the alleged leader of a waste hauling group, for the illegal dumping of substantial amounts of construction waste on national forest land in Mailiao Township. The investigation was initiated following a report from the Nantou Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office revealed that the operation was led by a 53-year-old man identified by the surname Lai, who is the responsible person for two companies. Seventeen other individuals, including a 36-year-old man surnamed Chen, were employed as drivers by Lai's companies. None of them possessed the legally required permits for waste removal and disposal.

Two other individuals, a 51-year-old man surnamed Xu and a 56-year-old man surnamed Lin, are accused of providing land for the illegal dumping. Specifically, Xu allegedly provided land in the Xinji section of Mailiao Township, while Lin provided national land managed by the Nantou Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency in the Xucuoliao section of Mailiao Township.

According to the prosecution, between November 1st, 3rd, and 4th, 2023, Lai directed Chen and the other 17 drivers to transport construction waste from New Taipei City and Taoyuan City to Yunlin. A 42-year-old man surnamed Chen and a 27-year-old man named Liu reportedly drove passenger cars to guide the dump trucks carrying the waste, which included soil, bricks, cement blocks, and rubber pipes. The debris was then dumped onto the designated land, and Xu allegedly used an excavator to bury and level the site.

The individuals involved were reportedly compensated for their roles. Xu received NT$2,500 per truckload, while the drivers received between NT$1,800 and NT$3,000 per truckload from Lai. Xu was reportedly paid NT$1,500 daily by Lai.

The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office emphasized that the cross-regional dumping of construction waste from northern Taiwan onto land in Yunlin County severely damages the local agricultural environment and infringes upon public interest. The office pledged to continue collaborating with police and environmental protection agencies to enforce the law strictly and prevent future environmental crimes.