By Eryk Michael Smith
Images via Kaoshiung City Government
KAOHSIUNG — The Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) has launched a criminal investigation after large piles of household waste were discovered dumped along Bidi Lane (埤底巷) between Jinshan and Zhongliao in Yanchao District’s Moon World (月世界) area.
According to a city press release, a citizen complaint led inspectors to find extensive amounts of garbage scattered across the hillside. A bag check revealed much of the waste originated from Tainan and other areas, raising suspicions of repeated dumping by an outside operator.
The EPB dispatched 13 vehicles and crews from seven district teams on Sunday to remove the trash. Investigators have begun reviewing surveillance footage from nearby homes, with Kaohsiung police assisting in tracking suspicious vehicles.
Officials said the case likely involves illegal commercial disposal. Under Taiwan’s Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法), unauthorized dumping violates Article 36 and carries fines from NT$6,000 to NT$3 million. The act also triggers criminal liability under Article 46, meaning offenders will be referred to prosecutors once identified.
The EPB emphasized a zero-tolerance approach and pledged to “investigate thoroughly with police and pursue the maximum penalties.”
Residents are urged to report similar cases through 1999 or the bureau’s environmental hotline at 07-731-7600.
