[Background]

This amendment aims to prevent long-term accumulation of abandoned waste and minimize secondary environmental damage such as leachate runoff and odors.

Since 1999, waste treatment companies have been required to have a performance bond system, which is managed by a mutual aid association or a guarantee insurance company, to ensure the proper treatment of abandoned waste.

When a company wants to store waste, it must first obtain a license from a local government, including approval for the storage volume. Before starting operations, the company must pay a contribution to the mutual aid association or purchase a performance bond from a guarantee insurance company, a commitment that must be maintained until the company ceases operations. Failure to do so can result in the revocation of the company's license or the closure of its facilities.

When a company's license is revoked or the company goes bankrupt, causing waste to be neglected, the local government first orders the company to treat the waste. If the company fails to comply, the waste is treated using the performance bond.

When a company is enrolled in a mutual aid association, the local government orders the association to treat the amount of waste corresponding to the performance bond. If the company has a guarantee insurance policy, the local government receives the insured amount from the insurance company and treats the waste directly.

If the unit prices for waste treatment do not reflect current costs, the amount of waste treated with the performance bond may be less than the amount covered. While the government can resort to administrative enforcement as a last resort to treat all abandoned waste, this places a significant financial burden on the national and local government budgets. Therefore, it is essential to apply realistic treatment unit prices to ensure that abandoned waste is properly treated with the available funds, minimizing environmental and public health risks.

[Main Points]

The unit prices for waste treatment have been adjusted to reflect increased costs in waste disposal, labor, and other factors. The amendment also expands the number of waste types from 58 to 60.

The newly added types are: Discarded solar panels, Discarded lighting waste (fluorescent lamps, LCDs)