Taiwan's Liou Ho Chemical Faces Prosecution for Illegal Waste Disposal, Exceeding 1700 Tons

In a case highlighting environmental violations, Liou Ho Chemical in Taoyuan City is charged with illegally burying waste, saving millions but facing severe penalties.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has indicted Liou Ho Chemical, a company located in the Pingzhen District of Taoyuan City, Taiwan, along with ten individuals and three corporate entities, for the illegal disposal of over 1700 tons of waste material on company property. The investigation, spearheaded by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, involved collaboration with the Environmental Protection Administration and the Environmental Protection Police Corps. The company, operating primarily in the import and trade of chemical raw materials and associated with businesses producing food additives, construction materials, and resin coatings, is accused of concealing waste disposal under the foundations of its factory buildings during a reconstruction project.

Authorities discovered that the company had failed to properly manage its waste disposal processes, including irregularities in environmental documentation and the absence of regular waste disposal contracts. Following a year-long investigation, a search of the premises on March 12th revealed the illegal burial. The company was subsequently ordered to excavate and properly store the waste to prevent further contamination. The Environmental Protection Bureau has since mandated the submission of a waste disposal plan, holding the company accountable for proper cleanup procedures.

The investigation revealed that the illegally buried waste included materials like cement, resin coatings, foam, discarded items, waste liquids, and laboratory waste, totaling over 1700 tons. The mixture of waste has resulted in cross-contamination, complicating the cleanup process and increasing the associated costs, estimated to exceed NT$20 million. The excavation of the buried waste also revealed that concentrations of volatile organic pollutants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), exceeded soil pollution control standards by up to 39 times.

During the investigation, the Prosecutor's Office searched the Liou Ho Chemical factory and detained several individuals. The court has requested imprisonment for Zhang and Lin of two years and six months and two years, respectively. Other defendants face sentences ranging from one year and four months to one year and eight months. The prosecutors also seek a fine of NT$15 million for the company to serve as a deterrent.