Together with the Tainan District Prosecutors Office, the Tainan City Field Division of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Investigation Bureau (IB), the Criminal Investigation Corps (CIC) of the Tainan City Police Department, and the Tainan Environmental Bureau, the EPA cracked down on a syndicate that dumps waste illegally and is headed by a suspect surnamed Wang. Prosecutors concluded the investigation on 4 August 2021 and indicted Wang and 52 other defendants (including juridical entities), based on the various offenses. They are charged with violating the Waste Disposal Act  Article 46, the Organized Crime Prevention Act , the Soil and Water Conservation Act (水土保持法), the Criminal Code (刑法) Article 320 paragraph 2, and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act  Article 83 paragraph 1.

Officials from the EPA's Bureau of Environmental Inspection (BEI) began assisting the environmental bureau in Tainan in May 2020 to investigate dumps of industrial waste in Longci District at a spot designated initially as a particular company's waste landfill. Later a joint investigation unit was formed with the district prosecutors, which checked all onsite traces and security cameras. Investigators found that the organization, led by the abovementioned Wang, had been illegally dumping waste for a long time. Tens of thousands of metric tons of industrial waste such as mixed plastics, masks, roof tiles, construction mixtures, plasters, sludge, and aluminum ash and dust, produced by industrial enterprises across Taiwan, were transported by the organization before being dumped or buried in seven public or privately owned pieces of land in Longci District, Guantian District, and Liouying District in Tainan City.

The EPA noted that petitions to detain 14 people were filed and approved during the prosecution. After a year and three months of tracking, evidence collection, and clarification, investigators found that the syndicate dug holes and cleared ground during the day and dumped waste at dusk or at night before covering the waste with soil. There is evidence showing up to 194 occurrences of vehicles committing illegal clearing and dumping. Prosecutors, police, and investigators conducted multiple searches, resulting in the seizure of 11 vehicles (excavators, trucks, and other vehicles used by the offenders) and NT$7 million in illegal gains.

During the prosecution, the equipment used to commit the illegal acts was auctioned off by the District Prosecutors Office for a value of NT$3.81 million. Meanwhile, the EPA and the prosecutors conducted 14 onsite excavations and investigations at the abovementioned spots. Testing of waste and soil samples revealed some of the dumped materials to be harmful industrial waste. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) index at one location exceeded soil pollution control standards. The local government will be asked to follow up in the future on pollution controls according to regulations.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, September 2021

Recycled aggregates are produced from incinerator bottom ash (IBA). When household wastes or wastes of similar nature are incinerated at high temperatures, the organic content is removed and inorganic residues with constituents of similar strengths as natural minerals remain. The residues are then crushed and screened to remove impurities to produce recycled aggregates, which have been used extensively in Japan, Europe and the United States in construction projects, replacing natural aggregates. Currently approximately 800,000 metric tons of recycled aggregates are produced yearly from domestic incinerators’ bottom ash. The overall recycling rate has reached 93%. 

The EPA stated that to ensure that local governments strictly control the quality of recycled aggregates and prioritize their use in public construction projects, the source, use and destination of every batch of recycled aggregates shall be registered online with quality test reports attached for public viewing. In addition, the EPA has subsidized or assisted local governments in setting up six public recycled aggregates plants in recent years with the prospect to gradually optimize processing facilities and raw material quality. It is expected that the aggregates produced by all public processors will amount to 57% of the total production in Taiwan in 2022, which will be more than the amount produced by all private recycling organizations. They are to be used by each county or city in public construction projects within their administrative districts. The EPA also requires local governments to establish cross-departmental implementation teams that are presided by top county or city officials to coordinate the departments in inventorying the needs of public construction projects within their districts and prioritizing the use of recycled aggregates.     

According to the EPA, the processing of IBA recycled aggregates involves multiple quality checking procedures and must comply with strict control standards and regulations to ensure quality. When recycled aggregates are to be used in a construction project, multiple conditions such as the applicability and rationality are reviewed in the project’s design and planning stage before handing them over to the project operator. They can be further processed based on the needs of the project and made into materials of diverse uses. There were concerns raised by the public and environmental groups about a case where recycled aggregates were used on agricultural and pastoral land last year. In reality, those aggregates were used as the base layer of mushroom huts, not affecting any part of planting. Since these aggregates were construction materials that did not affect the quality of agricultural production, the use was compliant with the regulations.   

There were also doubts raised by environmental groups about the differences between the domestic quality standards and those of advanced countries. The EPA stated that with reference to the latest standards of Japan and European countries, the government has reviewed the quality standards and the leaching control methods for IBA recycled aggregates and has placed restrictions on their usage locations and purposes. The latest version of the Management Regulations on the Recycling of Incinerator Bottom Ash was promulgated on 1 January 2021 using the Recycled Aggregate Leaching Procedure (NIEA R222) as the leaching testing method. In addition, with reference to domestic groundwater pollution control standards and regulations, a usage location classification management system was set up making the management regulations the most stringent to date.   

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, September 2021

On 30 August, the Central Emergency Operation Center for African swine flu announced a temporary ban on food waste entering pig farms: from 1 to 30 September, pig farms shall not use food waste as pigswill. To make sure domestic food waste clearance and disposal operations are not affected by the ban, the EPA preemptively held meetings every day (including holidays) from 26 August with the environmental bureaus of 22 counties and cities to discuss how to improve food waste disposal response measures to ensure regular people, restaurants, government agencies, food waste clearance enterprises and pig farms using food waste as pigswill are minimally affected.     

The EPA stated that counties and cities collect food waste via methods adjusted according to local conditions. People are requested to dispose of their food waste according to the methods prescribed by the counties or cities they live in. Restaurants, government agencies, schools, hotels, and community complexes are requested to hand over food waste to the initially commissioned pig farms or food waste clearance enterprises, transporting it to designated locations for free processing. Suppose any pig farms no longer help with the clearance. In that case, people are urged to contact the offices designated by counties and cities to have cleaning squads assist with or commission legal clearance enterprises for the clearance. All environmental agencies will mobilize and do their best to assist with food waste clearance and disposal.    

To accelerate carbon reduction, the EPA is revising the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act and had frequent discussions with relevant ministries, non-governmental organizations and industries. After summarizing the suggestions from all sectors, the revision bill was renamed Climate Change Response Act to expand policy coverage. In addition, in view of the fact that international carbon reduction regulations are being set up with economic and trade issues in consideration, in particular, the European Union (EU) is about to implement the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EPA is monitoring these trends closely and will come up with response measures when the need arises. For example, the collection of carbon fees and the product carbon content calculation and regulation methods have been included as key points of this revision.      

On 22 April, Earth Day, President Tsai declared that “transitioning to net zero by 2050 is a target of the whole world. It is also a target of Taiwan.” Premier Su of the Executive Yuan also reminded everyone at an Executive Yuan meeting on the same day that "greater determination and resolve are needed to speed up and aim for 2050 net zero carbon emissions." 

To achieve the target of transitioning to net zero, the Executive Yuan has held many “net zero emissions pathway assessment working group” meetings, inviting Academia Sinica and the Industrial Technology Research Institute to provide professional advice. Cross-ministerial technical evaluations based on the four major work circles of "decarbonized energy", "industry and energy efficiency", "green transportation and electrification of transportation vehicles" and "carbon negative technologies" were conducted. Pathways were also developed on the basis of short-, medium- and long-term energy and industrial policy planning for 2030, 2040 and 2050, respectively.

In addition, the EPA has been collaborating with relevant ministries to communicate with members of the public on Vision 2050, discussing key issues such as agricultural and forestry carbon sinks, net zero construction, green transportation, low-carbon industries, and economic tools. Cross-field social dialogues are also promoted to encourage participation from all sectors and investment in the research and development of innovative technologies.

According to the EPA, the EU is still reviewing the CBAM bill after it was proposed on 14 July of this year. Some implementation details and calculation methods are still to be formulated. In addition to the EU, the United States, Japan and Canada have also successively announced plans to implement a similar kind of carbon border adjusting mechanism. When the EPA held the meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Chinese National Federation of Industries, Taiwan Steel and Iron Industries Association, Taiwan Cement Manufacturers’ Association, and Petrochemical Industry Association of Taiwan on 2 July of this year, the industrial representatives also recommended revising regulations. In addition to strengthening carbon reduction management in domestic industries, they thought fair competition for products between countries should also be considered and the government should evaluate applying corresponding carbon emission control measures on imported products.  

The EPA stated that it is crucial to revise the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act at this moment. Not only is it to be in line with the international community, it is also to guide policies towards accelerating and intensifying carbon reduction efforts, and to help industries invest in low carbon technologies and economic development so as to lead the country towards sustainable development. In light of the urgency for the whole world to reduce carbon and the export-oriented nature of Taiwan’s economy, the EPA will continue to study and discuss with various agencies and help domestic industries respond appropriately to maintain international competitiveness.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, September 2021

The EPA newly announced ammonium nitrate and hydrogen fluoride as harmful chemical substances of concern, tightening operations such as manufacturing, imports, sales, uses, transportation, and storage, effective immediately. Handlers are to obtain permits, report operating data, and comply with regulations relevant to accident prevention and emergency responses. Sales and trades on online shopping platforms are banned, and hydrogen fluoride-containing products sold on the market must have proper labels. Above all, the measures aim to prevent accidents and harm caused by improper use.

These two substances are now announced as harmful concerned chemical substances because of their hazardous characteristics, and the EPA now has heavy penalties in place for mishandling them. Handling either substance without following the relevant regulations will result in fines between NT$30,000 and NT$300,000. Offenders may be sentenced up to seven years or even receive life sentences, along with fines of up to NT$1 million, depending on the extent to which their violations harm human health or cause death. A fine between NT$30,000 and NT$500,000 will be imposed for failing to comply with prevention and response regulations. Violators will be penalized with fines between NT$1 million to NT$5 million for not having third-party liability insurance or for failing to set up response equipment or detection and alarm facilities in accordance with regulations. The EPA pointed out that ammonium nitrate is a substance of high concern internationally. It is not only a precursor substance to the first substance listed by the EPA as a chemical of concern (nitrous oxide or laughing gas), but, for example, its improper storage was also behind the large 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. As for hydrogen fluoride, its unsafe handling has also caused numerous casualties and deaths. For these reasons these two substances are listed for control. 

The EPA said that products on the market such as cleansers for aluminum alloy, outer walls, and limescale usually contain hydrogen fluoride at a concentration of less than 10%, and may be susceptible to misuse by the public, or cause incidents due to delayed hospitalization. Hence, controls for hydrogen fluoride are to be strengthened in phases. For products with a low concentration (above 0.1% and below 10%), containers and packaging are to comply with relevant regulations and fully display product information to inform users of possible risks and ensure safe use. Meanwhile, a minimum label size has been specified for containers and packaging. For the use of higher hydrogen fluoride concentrations (over 10%), which are extremely dangerous to human health, permits must be applied for and approved. To lower risks, factories, chemical substance retail stores, and other outlets and channels selling hydrogen fluoride solvents must obtain permits before selling them. 

To reduce safety and health risks arising from misuse and abuse of ammonium nitrate and hydrogen fluoride, the EPA has proposed a strategy with five requirements and two bans. Handlers are required to acquire permits, operate only after being licensed, apply proper labels, record all activities online, file monthly reports, carry out prevention and response measures, and comply with bans on online buying and selling. All operations from the start to the end of the industrial chain, including manufacturing, imports, sales, use, and storage, cannot proceed without permits. If the total amount handled exceeds the control levels, operators are to abide by accident prevention and emergency response regulations under the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (毒性及關注化學物質管理法). These measures include submitting risk prevention and response plans, acquiring liability insurance, conducting professional training for response personnel, setting up joint prevention entities, preparing response equipment and detection and alarm facilities, and registering transport documents. These measures are aimed at improving the risk management of chemical substances by enhancing accident response, risk prevention, transportation, and safe management of the two substances. 

Finally, the EPA further explained that, after ammonium nitrate was listed as a concerned chemical substance, as of 1 October 2021, enterprises are to keep online records of every operation activity and file them every month if the amounts they handle change. The purpose is to obtain storage information in real-time, strengthen response management, and further enhance management of the production sources of laughing gas.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, September 2021

As Zhongyuan Festival approached, the EPA and local governments took the initiative to promote eco-friendly worship. In 2020, “donation instead of joss paper” was promoted across the country with a collection of more than NT$65 million in donations, approximately seven times the amount in 2017. And after Tainan City, Pingtung County and other local governments successively launched eco-friendly joss paper burners. The amount of joss paper burned in centralized burners in 2020 increased significantly to 1.7 times the amount in 2017, cutting 61 metric tons of PM_2.5 emission, equivalent to emissions of 0.7 coal-fired power generator.    

The EPA stated that during the pudu (literally “universal crossing” in Chinese) period, households and religious organizations often burn joss paper and incense and set off firecrackers as part of the custom. Since these actions often affect people’s living environments, the EPA and all local governments have been actively promoting eco-friendly worship that takes both the folk culture and the environment into account. For example, using large denominations of joss paper and providing collection and transportation for centralized burning of joss paper, replacing the burning of joss paper with donations or with white rice offerings, or participating in pudu online.

As the public becomes more environmentally conscious, more and more people are putting eco-friendly worship into practice. Nine counties and cities across the country have promoted “donation instead of joss paper” and the amount of donations collected is increasing yearly. In addition, after Tainan City and Pingtung County launched their eco-friendly burners in 2019 and 2020 respectively, more than 20,000 metric tons of joss paper in Taiwan were sent to incinerators, joss paper burners, or dedicated burners equipped with pollution control equipment in 2020. Moreover, the EPA formulated the Operating Guidelines for the Review and Subsidy for Joss Paper Burner Establishment Projects in May 2021 and expects to allocate NT$10 billion by the end of 2022 to subsidize local governments to set up eco-friendly joss paper burners.

The EPA noted that to ameliorate the pollutant emission generated from folklore worship, many counties and cities have adopted creative ways to promote eco-friendly worship, providing diverse outlets for people to be environmentally responsible. For example, New Taipei City and Nantou County have promoted online pudu by having people sign up to worship together online and designating locations for centralized collection of joss paper. Keelung City, Hsinchu City and Chiayi County have promoted centralized burning of joss paper combined with burner purifying ceremonies taking into account the pudu ceremonial culture. Taoyuan City has allowed people who adopt eco-friendly worship to participate in lottery activities. Yunlin County works with hypermarkets to encourage eco-friendly worship. Taichung City has invited professional baseball players to support eco-friendly pudu offering ceremonies. Kaohsiung City and Tainan City have worked in conjunction with social welfare organizations to promote “donation instead of joss paper.”

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, September 2021