A Class A waste disposal company, Y Company, located in Guanyin District, Taoyuan City, was found to have illegally accepted unpermitted waste under the guise of legality. The company failed to report truthfully and subcontracted the disposal of unprocessable waste to an illegal facility. Through collaborative efforts involving the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, the Northern and Central Environmental Management Center of the Environmental Management Administration, the Ministry of Environment, the First Squadron, Third Brigade, of the Seventh Special Police Corps, Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Miaoli County Government, a joint investigation was conducted. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has indicted 25 individuals, including Y Company, and nine companies for violations of Article 46 and Article 48 of the Waste Disposal Act. The TYDEP will also revoke Y Company's waste disposal permit in accordance with applicable regulations.
The Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP) stated that Y Company held a Class A waste disposal permit issued by the city, allowing them to accept mixed waste metals for dismantling and smelting of valuable metals. They were also authorized to accept organic waste solvents without precipitates or viscous materials for use as auxiliary fuel in the smelting process. However, the company illegally processed waste solvents, strong acids, hydrofluoric acid, strong alkalis and sludge-containing viscous and precipitate substances. Moreover, they disposed of unprocessable waste liquids in empty spaces adjacent to three leased workshops. After launching the "Joint Investigation and Prosecution Platform for Law Enforcement and Environmental Protection" in Taoyuan, the TYDEP collaborated with the Northern and Central Environmental Management Center of the Environmental Management Administration, Ministry of Environment and the First Squadron, Third Brigade, of the Seventh Special Police Corps to investigate and gather evidence between December 2021 and 2022. It was discovered that certain barrels and tanks exhibited signs of corrosion, posing a risk of environmental contamination, thereby violating Articles 31, 41 and 46 of the Waste Disposal Act. During the period from January 1, 2021, to October 31, 2023, TYDEP conducted a total of 41 inspections and filed 11 reports against Y Company, resulting in fines totaling NT$692,000.
The TYDEP indicated that, according to the district prosecutor's office, 25 individuals and nine companies, including YuO, were prosecuted for violating Article 46 of the Waste Disposal Act regarding illegal handling of industrial waste, issuing false documents regarding proper disposal, and knowingly submitting false declarations under Article 48 of the Waste Disposal Act. The TYDEP also stated that Y Company is suspected of using legal cover to conceal illicit activities by collaborating with businesses to illegally accept waste that falls outside the permitted items for processing. Additionally, the company failed to truthfully report the delivery notes and operational records related to the waste, as well as exceeding the waste liquid processing capacity. The TYDEP will revoke its processing permit according to Article 42 of the Waste Disposal Act and Article 27 of the Permit Management Regulations for Public or Private Waste Clearance and Disposal Organizations.
The TYDEP urges all waste-producing businesses, clearance companies and disposal companies not to leave things to chance and damage the environment by illegal disposal in order to save on waste cleanup costs. If members of the public discover suspected illegal dumping, burying of waste, river pollution, or any other environmental issues, they can report them to the TYDEP at any time by calling the 24-hour Pollution Complaint Hotline at 0800-066666 or 03-3354943. Environmental crimes will be investigated by the "Joint Investigation and Prosecution Platform for Law Enforcement and Environmental Protection" in Taoyuan to prevent unlawful acts.