Environmental Management Administration

The ministry assists local governments in promoting the refurbishment and life extension of incineration plants, and complete facility optimization upgrades to achieve multiple benefits, including extended service life, improved treatment performance, and reduced pollutant emissions. Of the existing 24 incineration plants nationwide, upgrade projects have been completed at nine plants, are underway at seven plants, and are being planned by the remaining eight county and city governments. These upgrades are being carried out in coordination with scheduled maintenance shutdowns and implemented in phases over multiple years. Meanwhile, the annual incineration capacity of the existing 24 plants, approximately 6.5 million metric tons, is maintained. The ministry also continues to assist local governments in establishing self-sufficient waste treatment facilities. Since 2023, three facilities in Taoyuan City, Hualien County, and Taitung County have successively commenced operations, adding 270,000 metric tons of waste treatment capacity to ensure the proper treatment of household waste generated by the public and maintain environmental sanitation.

The ministry is actively encouraging local governments to establish food waste biomass energy facilities and expand diverse disposal channels for food waste.

• (1) Taichung Waipu Green Energy Ecology Park: officially commenced operations on July 9, 2019, with a daily treatment capacity of 80 metric tons. The phase II expansion is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2024, bringing the total daily treatment capacity to 150 metric tons upon commissioning.
• (2) Taoyuan Guanyin Biomass Energy Facility: currently undergoing trial operations with a treatment capacity of 135 metric tons per day.
• (3) Co-digestion of food waste and other biomass: New Taipei City and Pingtung County cooperate with Central Livestock Farm to implement the co-digestion of food waste and swine manure, capable of digesting 20 to 30 metric tons of food waste daily.

• A. Recognition of outstanding sanitation workers

  A National Outstanding Sanitation Worker Awards Ceremony is held to recognize exemplary sanitation personnel. From among more than 35,000 sanitation workers nationwide, 102 National Outstanding Sanitation Workers are selected in recognition of their contributions to maintaining environmental cleanliness throughout the country and to boost workforce morale.

• B. Promoting occupational safety and health (OSH) for sanitation workers

  To implement measures protecting the occupational safety of sanitation workers, the ministry established the OSH Promotion Committee for Sanitation Workers, appointing representatives from OSHA and the Institute of Labor, OSH of the Ministry of Labor, local environmental protection agencies, and sanitation worker unions as committee members. Committee meetings are held quarterly to discuss measures and practices for promoting occupational safety and health and to facilitate exchanges with labor unions and local environmental protection agencies.

  The ministry promotes occupational safety and health for sanitation workers by effectively identifying deficiencies in occupational safety and health management within sanitation teams, providing necessary guidance and assistance, inviting expert committee members to conduct assessments, and making recommendations for future improvements. These efforts also assist local environmental protection agencies in establishing occupational safety and health management organizations and staffing that comply with the requirements of occupational safety and health legislation.

  Safety and health education and training are implemented. In 2022 and 2023, assistance was provided for the certification and training of 455 first-aid personnel, 144 mobile crane (grapple truck) operators, 75 loader and 49 excavator operators, 59 aerial work platform operators, and 32 forklift operators. In addition, eight in-service occupational safety and health training courses were conducted for occupational safety supervisors, first-aid personnel, and operators of vehicle-mounted construction machinery. Local environmental protection agencies were also supervised in conducting a cumulative total of 269 sessions of hazard communication and disaster prevention training or operational safety promotion and observation activities for sanitation workers, comprehensively enhancing occupational safety awareness among sanitation personnel. Training on the Labor Standards Act was also provided for sanitation team management personnel, along with human resource competency training for supervisors.

• C. Procurement of work uniforms for sanitation workers

  To implement policies for the care of sanitation workers and improvement of service quality, subsidies were provided to local governments for the procurement of work uniforms. In 2019, complete sets of work uniforms (including short- and long-sleeved polo shirts, jackets, and pants) were subsidized for sanitation workers nationwide. In 2020, funding was allocated to provide each sanitation worker nationwide with a short-sleeved polo shirt and work pants. In 2022, subsidies were provided for long-sleeved polo shirts for winter and pants for sanitation workers nationwide. In 2023, thermal vests and sleeves for sun protection were subsidized. All deliveries and inspections have been completed.

• D. Optimization of sanitation team facilities

  Environmental protection facility optimization and improvement projects for sanitation teams have been promoted to improve standby and working environments. In 2023, NT$27,682,500 was allocated to improve 11 locations. In 2024, NT$72,260,222 has been allocated to improve 29 sanitation team facilities.

• E. Accelerating the replacement of aging garbage trucks with low-carbon garbage trucks

  Local governments continue to receive subsidies to replace aging garbage trucks with low-carbon garbage trucks. From 2018 to 2022, 449 garbage trucks were replaced, leading to an accumulated carbon reduction of approximately 5,865 metric tons. In 2023, NT$170 million was provided to 20 local governments to replace 100 garbage trucks. In 2024, plans have been approved for 19 counties and cities to replace 175 garbage trucks, with continued evaluation and promotion efforts underway.

• A. Strategies for sites requiring accelerated remediation
  • (1) Of the 9,176 sites publicly announced over the years, 8,725 have undergone remediation, marking a completion rate of 95%. For sites that remain under regulatory control, local governments are urged to actively carry out remediation in accordance with the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act.
  • (2) For sites where no polluter can be identified, in order to accelerate remediation, environmental assessments of soil and groundwater contamination potential and confirmation of contamination volumes at 94 sites have been carried out in phases and stages since 2024. The scope of implementation will be expanded and the progress of site delisting will be quickened through central government demonstration projects and subsidies to local competent authorities for implementing appropriate remediation and management measures at contaminated sites.
• B. Establishing demonstration cases for the revitalization and reuse of national (public) contaminated land

  Through cross-ministerial cooperation among the Environmental Management Administration (EMA), Ministry of Environment, National Property Administration, Ministry of Finance, and local governments, there have been discussions about sites with unidentified pollution sources and stalled remediation progress. The Dagang Section Soil Pollution Control Site in Nantou City, Nantou County, was selected as a demonstration project for land pollution remediation and revitalization. With the professional assistance of the EMA, remediation was completed in November 2023, shortening the remediation period from four years to one year and saving approximately NT$50 million. Since 2024, the Nantou County Environmental Protection Bureau has been conducting feasibility assessments and preliminary planning for the development of environmental protection facilities at the site to address local food waste and organic sludge treatment needs. This initiative aims to stimulate local development, promote public participation, generate revenue to partially replenish the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund, and create multiple benefits through the sustainable use of national land resources.

• C. Strengthening regional monitoring well management and understanding groundwater quality conditions

  The EMA has established more than 460 regional monitoring wells and conducts regular monitoring. Groundwater quality is assessed and tracked based on long-term trends. According to groundwater monitoring results through 2023, an average of 92.1% of monitored groundwater samples remained below groundwater pollution monitoring standards, with iron and manganese concentrations primarily attributable to natural conditions. In addition, a monitoring well life-cycle management system has been established, including comprehensive records for well installation, maintenance, and decommissioning. This system enables authorities to track the status of monitoring wells, maintain their functionality, support groundwater pollution management efforts, strengthen systematic monitoring well management, and integrate monitoring resources.

• D. Promoting green and sustainable site remediation

  To ensure that contaminated site remediation is consistent with sustainable development objectives, the EMA promotes green and sustainable remediation policies aimed at reducing the secondary environmental impacts associated with pollutant removal activities. In 2023, guidance was provided for 84 contaminated sites to complete best management practice evaluations or implement green and sustainable remediation measures, thereby reducing negative environmental, social, or economic impacts. In addition, 2023 marked the first year in which six outstanding green and sustainable remediation teams were recognized, encouraging remediation practitioners to adopt green and sustainable remediation approaches, reduce pollution footprints, and maintain environmental quality.

• A. Promoting the digitalization of environmental law enforcement

  By integrating relevant internal and external systems of the ministry, the Inspection Management Platform (IMP) was established. This platform enables inspectors to quickly access baseline data, permits, reporting records, and enforcement information related to air, water, waste, and toxic substances for regulated entities through the platform. The platform utilizes data science to analyze reported data and provide alerts regarding suspected violations, improving the efficiency of digital inspections. Smart tablets are also used to support inspections, and customized system functions can automatically import business information, reducing the time required for data searches and manual data entry.

  The platform has been refined and gradually improved through feedback-improvement scheme by the three regional centers of environmental management under the administration. Based on the principle of resource sharing between central and local governments, the platform and digital inspections have been expanded to local environmental protection agencies since August 2022. In 2023, the platform was promoted to environmental protection agencies in 14 counties and cities, using digitalized operations to enhance the efficiency of on-site inspections conducted by local environmental protection agencies.

• B. Strengthening cross-sector cooperation in environmental law enforcement and promoting source-based governance of environmental crimes
  • (1) Continuing to enhance prosecutor-police-environmental protection agency cooperation to jointly combat illegal activities

    With regional governance as the objective, the administration supervises and provides consultation to local governments on various environmental protection matters, focusing on the investigation of cross-regional environmental pollution incidents and major environmental crimes. It also serves as an important liaison between prosecutors, police, and environmental protection agencies, maintaining close cooperation and exchanges with local authorities.

    On October 31, 2023, the “National Environmental Law Enforcement Seminar” was held, with prosecutors, police, and environmental protection agencies sharing experience on environmental law enforcement operations and national land conservation cases. The Golden Environment Award Ceremony for Environmental Crime Investigations recognized 14 outstanding front-line prosecutors, police officers, and environmental law enforcement personnel, as well as three local environmental protection agencies for their achievements in combating environmental crime. The event was a show of appreciation for their dedication and sought to encourage continued cooperation in protecting the environment.

  • (2) Enhancing investigation techniques and strengthening enforcement capacity

    Professionals and scholars with expertise in environmental engineering, accounting and tax, and law are brought in to assist inspectors in investigating criminal pollution cases. In addition, three “Pollution Prevention Management Facility Exchange Conferences” were held in northern, central, and southern Taiwan in 2023. These events not only enhanced inspectors’ practical investigation experience but also promoted the importance of self-managed pollution prevention through exchanges with industry practitioners. Representatives from science parks and private environmental organizations were also invited to participate. Through practical exchanges and the sharing of law enforcement experiences, interactions among central and local governments, public agencies, and civil society were strengthened.

• C. Improving the quality of environmental engineer certifications process and strengthening self-management by businesses

  In 2023, environmental engineers with a large volume of certifications and poor certification quality in the previous year (2022) were selected as inspection targets. Central and local governments conducted joint auditing of engineer certifications through a collaboration. In 2023, 372 cases were audited, and corresponding engineers were required to improve certification quality according to deficiencies identified.

  To enhance the quality of certifications and professional competence of engineers, in addition to the aforementioned auditing, the EMA also conducted four environmental engineer quality improvement workshops in 2023, in which 152 certifying engineers participated, making up 80.0% of all certifying engineers in 2022. Participant satisfaction reached 90%, showing that the workshops effectively helped engineers strengthen their professional expertise and improve certification quality. Through the professional knowledge of engineers, businesses are expected to receive frontline assistance in establishing environmental pollution prevention mechanisms, thereby strengthening self-management and benefitting the public, environmental protection, and economic development.

• D. Utilizing diverse technological management approaches to strengthen environmental impact assessment supervision

  The EMA approved 575 environmental impact assessment (EIA) cases and manages and inspects them through a variety of approaches. Cases are categorized according to the type of development activity and managed under a tiered regulatory system. Through proactive and effective administrative measures, development entities are supervised to ensure compliance with their EIA commitments. In 2023, 455 EIA inspections were conducted, resulting in 14 enforcement actions and fines totaling NT$7 million.

  For major development projects, special supervision committees or project-specific supervision meetings are organized, bringing together relevant government agencies, experts and scholars, local resident representatives, and environmental protection organizations. In 2023, 13 such meetings were held to supervise and review the implementation of EIA review conclusions and committed measures for various development projects. In addition, interagency cooperation mechanisms were established to facilitate cross-ministerial collaboration and data integration and sharing, with joint law enforcement actions conducted when necessary. Technological tools and big data analytics are also applied to support the development of EIA monitoring data repositories, warning and assessment mechanisms, digital management systems, and remote monitoring systems for development sites, thereby effectively enhancing supervision and enforcement performance.

• A. Defining the coordinating authority for coastal cleanup and maintenance and establishing appropriate division of responsibilities so that every inch of coastline remains clean

  On May 7, 2020, the Executive Yuan approved the “Salute to the Sea - Coastal Cleanup and Maintenance Plan (2020-2023),” and on Sept. 23, 2023, approved the “Salute to the Sea - Coastal Cleanup and Maintenance Plan (2024-2027).” Nine ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ocean Affairs Council, Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Environment reviewed various coastal cleanup and source management tasks together. In cooperation with local governments, cleanup mechanisms based on principles of “regular cleanup,” “immediate cleanup,” and “emergency cleanup” were established to ensure that every inch of Taiwan’s 1,990 kilometers of coastline remains clean.

  Since 2020, central government agencies and local governments have invested manpower and resources to clean coastlines under their jurisdictions. From 2020 through Jan. 31, 2024, more than 231,000 metric tons of waste were removed nationwide. The ministry also conducted coastal waste surveys, which showed that the volume of coastal waste nationwide in 2023 had decreased by nearly 60% compared to 2019, demonstrating the effectiveness of coastal cleanup and maintenance efforts.

• B. Reducing the amount of coastal waste requiring cleanup each year through source reduction and recycling

  To intercept land-based waste before it enters rivers, the administration cooperates with the Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs to carry out river waste interception operations. Statistics from 2020 through the end of January 2024 show that there are currently 1,301 fixed interception points nationwide, including 573 floodgates, 42 pumping stations, and 686 other interception points. In addition, there have been a cumulative total of 33,524 mobile interception points, intercepting approximately 41,000 metric tons of waste.

  Coastal waste cleanup must begin with source reduction. Measures include the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency promoting real-name registration systems for fishing nets and fishing gear, replacing expanded polystyrene floats used in aquaculture with environmentally friendly floating devices, and establishing temporary storage areas for aquaculture waste. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Environment have also promoted river surface waste interception and provided government-wide procurement contracts for the reuse of waste polystyrene and waste wood materials (including oyster farming racks), thereby establishing appropriate recycling and reuse channels and mechanisms.

• C. To maintain clean and comfortable coastal environments during the Lunar New Year holiday, the “Standard Operating Procedures for Handling Coastal Litter Reports During the Lunar New Year Holiday (Draft)” have been developed. To coincide with the peak travel season during the Lunar New Year holiday and provide both domestic and international visitors with clean and well-maintained coastal and beach environments, central and local governments cooperate to improve the efficiency of handling reports of coastal litter during the holiday period. These efforts enhance public access to coastal environments, encourage greater public enjoyment of the coastline, and increase tourism value.

• A. Renovation and construction of high-quality public restrooms

  To create high-quality public restrooms and improve environmental quality while improving international visitors’ impressions, the Executive Yuan approved the “Promotion Plan for High-Quality Public Restrooms and Beautiful Environments” (2019-2024). The program provides subsidies to local governments for the construction and renovation of public restrooms, improving public restroom quality and supporting tourism development.

  Since 2019, the EMA has implemented the “Public Restroom Improvement and High-Quality Public Restroom Promotion Program,” providing subsidies to local governments for the construction and renovation of public restrooms. By incorporating local cultural characteristics, the program seeks to establish high-quality public restrooms. From 2019 to 2024, subsidies were approved for the construction or renovation of 4,147 public restrooms. To ensure construction quality, public restroom projects are inspected, and experts and scholars are invited to provide professional guidance to improve construction standards.

  Local governments of special municipalities, counties, and cities are supervised in implementing the “Reference Guidelines for the Installation of Accessible Restrooms.” When undertaking public restroom construction and renovation projects, they are required to comprehensively consider and improve accessibility and friendliness in terms of basic facilities, gender inclusiveness, family needs, senior-friendliness, and accessibility for people with disabilities. From 2019 to 2024, subsidies were approved for 224 friendly restrooms. Nationwide, there are 589 gender-friendly public restrooms, of which 38% were subsidized by the ministry.

  To create aesthetically pleasing and high-quality environments, provide comfortable restroom experiences, and develop public restrooms suitable for all users, the “Beautiful Restroom Environment – Designed by You” public restroom design competition was organized. Registration was open from Dec. 15, 2023 to March 15, 2024. Evaluation was scheduled for May 2024, followed by an awards and presentation ceremony in June 2024. The public was invited to contribute creative ideas and collaborate in designing restrooms that are comfortable, welcoming, and safe.

• B. Promoting improvements in public restroom quality
  • (1) In 2023, a public restroom evaluation prize-drawing event was held, inviting members of the public to rate public restrooms while using them, thereby reflecting public expectations regarding restroom quality.
  • (2) To comprehensively improve public restroom quality nationwide and foster a positive atmosphere of benchmarking and learning from best practices, the EMA organized a public restroom evaluation program. Following three months of on-site assessments conducted by experts and scholars, 35 outstanding public restrooms were selected and recognized through an awards ceremony in appreciation of the hard work of their management units.
  • (3) Public restroom culture is promoted through radio broadcasts encouraging good restroom etiquette, including messages such as “Flush toilet paper down the toilet,” “Clean up after yourself,” and “If you encounter a cleaner, do not hesitate to say, ‘It's very clean, thank you.’”
  • (4) On Nov. 17, 2023, the ministry participated in CPC Corporation’s “World Toilet Day Public Restroom Cleanup Mobilization” event to encourage businesses to provide high-quality public restrooms. The company has actively participated in the ministry's “National Outstanding Public Restroom Evaluation Program” by nominating high-quality public restrooms and has continued to maintain high standards of restroom service and cleanliness, providing the public with a better restroom environment and greater peace of mind.
  • (5) Pilot projects have been promoted to install smart sensors in public restrooms, including sensors for visitor traffic, odors, remaining toilet paper, and hand soap levels. These sensors provide real-time monitoring information to restroom management units, enabling prompt cleaning and helping managers plan cleaning schedules and consumable replacement frequencies more effectively.
  • (6) QR codes have been promoted at regulated public restrooms, allowing members of the public to provide immediate feedback and suggestions for improvement, enabling management units to promptly dispatch personnel to address issues.
  • (7) To provide the public with clean and comfortable recreational environments, an “End-of-Year Cleanup Implementation Plan” was developed. Local governments were requested to strengthen environmental cleanup efforts and related public awareness activities, involving government agencies, organizations, villages, and boroughs, while encouraging residents, volunteers, and civil organizations to participate in environmental cleanup, maintenance, and the removal of litter hotspots.

  The EMA continues to work toward improving the cleanliness and quality of public restrooms nationwide through the establishment of a graded public restroom evaluation and management system, strengthened environmental cleanliness inspections and enforcement, and enhanced public outreach and communication. Subsidies are provided to local governments for public restroom cleaning and maintenance, while public participation in restroom quality evaluations is encouraged. Through the development of high-quality public restrooms, enhanced environmental cleanliness, and improvement initiatives, the ministry seeks to improve environmental sanitation quality and ensure that the public can enjoy restroom environments that are “not dirty, not smelly, and not wet,” providing a pleasant and clean restroom experience.