Zero Tolerance for Illegal Waste Dumping – Yilan Prosecutors Take Swift Action
Upholding Environmental Justice Through Strict Enforcement

In response to media reports on November 3 regarding suspected illegal dumping of waste on private land in Dongshan Township, Yilan County, the Yilan District Prosecutors Office immediately assigned a prosecutor to direct an investigative task force composed of officers from the Yilan County Police Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Corps and the Luodong Precinct. The task force promptly launched an in-depth investigation into the case.

On the morning of November 4, the assigned prosecutor personally led judicial police officers to the site, accompanied by personnel from the Yilan County Environmental Protection Bureau, to conduct an on-site inspection and evidence collection. The team is actively gathering relevant facts and pursuing the individuals behind the unlawful activities.

The Yilan District Prosecutors Office solemnly reiterates that any person or entity engaging in the storage, removal, or disposal of waste without proper authorization, or in violation of the terms of an approved permit, is in breach of Article 46 of the Waste Disposal Act. Violators are subject to imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than five years, and may also be fined up to NT$15 million. In addition to criminal penalties, offenders are liable for substantial costs associated with waste removal and environmental remediation — a heavy price to pay for unlawful gain.

The Office firmly upholds the principle of strict enforcement and zero tolerance toward environmental crimes. We will continue to take decisive action to combat illegal pollution and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to protecting environmental and social justice.

The Yilan District Prosecutors Office also calls on all businesses to ensure that any waste generated is properly handled by licensed waste removal and disposal entities. Illegal dumping or burial of waste is strictly prohibited. Members of the public who observe suspicious dumping or pollution activities are urged to promptly report them to judicial, police, or environmental authorities. Let us work together to safeguard Yilan’s mountains, rivers, and the shared environment of our homeland.