Illegal Waste Burial in Taiwan: A Large-Scale Environmental Crime Uncovered

Authorities in Taiwan's Changhua County have uncovered a large-scale illegal burial of construction waste, revealing a serious environmental violation.

An investigation in Changhua County, Taiwan, has revealed a significant case of illegal waste disposal, highlighting the ongoing challenges in environmental protection. The Changhua Police Department, in collaboration with environmental authorities, discovered that a local company had buried demolition waste from a factory covering an area of 1553 square meters.

The investigation, launched after receiving a tip, involved a joint effort between the Changhua Police Department and the environmental protection authorities. Upon excavation, the authorities found a mixture of construction debris, including waste wood, plastic pipes, bricks, and concrete. The environmental protection authorities confirmed that the waste materials fell under the category of "mixed civil engineering or construction waste," confirming violations of the Waste Disposal Act.

The investigation revealed that the owner, Lü, had employed a Li, excavator operator, and You, a worker, paying them a total of NT$108,000 to bury the waste. The operator and worker directly buried the waste on-site to save on disposal costs and time.

The Changhua Police Department emphasizes that the illegal disposal of waste harms land resources and potentially contaminates groundwater, affecting agricultural land and posing a long-term threat to public health and the environment. The swift resolution of this case is attributed to the strong cooperation between the police and environmental authorities. The authorities plan to continue joint inspections and rigorously address illegal dumping to safeguard the environmental quality of Changhua County.

The authorities are urging those involved in construction projects to properly handle construction waste through legal channels. Those who choose to illegally dump waste may face a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to NT$15 million. This case underscores the need for stricter supervision and education to prevent environmental crimes in Taiwan.