TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s National Land Management Agency on Wednesday outlined measures to help local governments manage construction soil and debris following disruptions caused by a new nationwide tracking system.
Effective Jan. 1, all leftover earth and rocks from excavation or foundation work must be closely tracked from the construction site to final disposal. Previously, soil transport was loosely regulated and mostly managed through paper permits, according to Global Views Monthly.
The stricter rules have sparked complaints from the construction industry. Traffic congestion at disposal sites and higher handling fees have led to temporary work stoppages at multiple projects nationwide.
Under the new system, vehicles transporting soil must be equipped with an authority-approved GPS device. Non-compliant trucks face fines ranging from NT$60,000 (US$1,900) to NT$300,000.
As a result, handling costs, which previously averaged NT$1,200 per cubic meter, have risen as much as tenfold. Minor contamination, such as wood, plastic, or other debris that was previously tolerated, now qualifies as waste, further increasing disposal costs.
The NLMA proposed four solutions to ease the backlog. These include expanding disposal sites, establishing temporary storage areas, streamlining transport procedures, and allowing small trucks equipped with GPS to carry soil and debris.
A shortage of compliant trucks is a major factor. As of Jan. 6, only 2,742 of 4,076 applied trucks had completed GPS approval, with 1,334 still under testing.
Only large vehicles were registered as soil trucks. Considering narrow roads in northern cities, authorities will now allow small trucks weighing 3,500–8,800 kilograms to transport soil if equipped with GPS, according to CTEE.
The truck shortage, combined with slower processing at disposal sites, has created a cascading effect. Soil cannot be transported, construction sites halt, and project timelines are delayed.
NLMA Director Wu Shin-hsiu (吳欣修) said the policy was not implemented hastily. Discussions with industry stakeholders began in 2024, and construction companies were notified of the upcoming regulations in August.
Most companies, however, only began installing GPS devices in December. Wu said installation now takes less than three days, and current delays are temporary.
Wu also highlighted long-standing challenges in soil management, especially for soil mixed with construction waste, which requires careful sorting at processing facilities. Poorly sorted loads are often rejected by disposal sites, particularly in densely populated areas such as Taipei and New Taipei City, where urban renewal projects frequently produce soil mixed with demolition debris.
Based on last year’s excavation volumes, roughly 6,000 trucks are needed per day. With the recent allowance for small trucks, transport capacity is expected to rise significantly, helping meet daily demand and resolve the soil backlog.
Taiwan Realty Executive Director Chang Hsu-lan (張旭嵐) said construction suspensions could delay housing deliveries and disrupt buyers’ plans, with some projects potentially reaching contract breach deadlines. She noted that soil management, transport delays, and tighter construction financing may increase overall housing costs.
The Taiwan Federation of Real Estate Development Associations called on the government to address the backlog and support the construction sector. It welcomed the postponement of full enforcement of soil transport regulations to 2030 and recommended that local authorities expand disposal and processing capacity during the transition period.
