Tainan City Government Implements Six Strategies to Improve Construction Earthwork Disposal

Tainan City is proactively addressing the challenges posed by the new national regulations on the 'full flow' management of construction surplus soil and rock material, which took effect this year. Recognizing the potential impact on public construction and private development, the city government has meticulously identified issues and launched six key response strategies. These measures, coupled with the planning of temporary storage sites, aim to stabilize earthwork disposal and mitigate project disruptions.

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Tainan City Government has identified problems regarding the current situation and response to the disposal of earthwork and has launched 'six major response measures,' while simultaneously planning temporary storage sites, through expanding capacity, to stabilize earthwork disposal through multiple channels.

Our city's approach focuses on expanding disposal capacity, significantly increasing the daily volume limit for earthwork sites. We are also facilitating temporary storage on compliant land, particularly for smaller construction projects, allowing for classification and short-term storage. Furthermore, clean earthwork materials (Class B1 to B4) can now be directly used for backfilling public facilities, government-owned land, and designated private low-lying areas, streamlining the process and promoting resource utilization.

Procedural simplification is another cornerstone of our strategy. With the approval of engineering authorities, we are enabling the exchange of earthwork between public and private construction projects. To further support this, Tainan is establishing three public temporary storage sites with a substantial combined capacity, prioritizing assistance for social housing projects and those involving basement excavation. Additionally, we are offering automatic extensions for construction permits issued between 2023 and 2025, providing crucial flexibility for developers.

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For the problem of high earthwork processing costs for pipeline projects, the Tainan City Government is currently promoting a consignment processing mechanism, where contractors assist in disposal, and relax the backfilling regulations, allowing the use of excavated materials mixed with cement materials in the original pipeline trench location to reduce the production of waste soil from the source.

Beyond disposal and storage, Tainan is tackling the issue of high earthwork processing costs for pipeline projects by promoting a consignment mechanism where contractors assist in disposal. We are also relaxing backfilling regulations, allowing the use of excavated materials mixed with cement in the original trench location to reduce waste. Enhanced monitoring, with 457 transport vehicles equipped with GPS and an electronic waybill system, ensures full-process tracking and compliance. Mayor Huang Wei-che stressed that the city government will intervene in cases of abnormal price fluctuations, forming joint inspection teams to monitor the market and prevent collusion or price gouging, with potential referral to the Fair Trade Commission if necessary. This comprehensive and adaptive management system ensures the steady operation of earthwork regulations while balancing project advancement with environmental safety.

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Regarding abnormal fluctuations in earthwork prices, the city government will intervene in a timely manner to mediate, and establish a joint inspection team to strengthen price monitoring and market investigation, prevent joint price increases or improper price gouging, and transfer to the Fair Trade Commission for xử lý if necessary, to maintain market order.