TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Two men were sentenced to prison for illegally collecting and disposing of waste oil, the Taichung District Court said Thursday (Aug. 1), unlawfully profiting more than NT$100 million (US$3.05 million).

The two men, surnamed Tseng (曾) and Chen (陳), were charged with five others. Tseng was sentenced to one year in prison, and Chen to 1.5 years. Both sentences can be appealed.

Tseng and his wife, surnamed Chang (張), ran two companies involved in metalworking oil sales, while Chen operated a third. The three companies illegally collected and processed waste oil without proper permits, per CNA.

The processed oil was then exported to Southeast Asia. Waste oil that could not be processed was dumped in a local ditch.

Chang and four company employees were each sentenced to prison ranging from one year and one month to one year and five months. All received suspended sentences, and their cases can be appealed.