The Impact of Water Pollution Control Fee on Taiwan Steelmakers

by Yu-Wei Chang, Chan-Po Chen

Publisher - Dragon Steel Corporation, Taiwan

Category - Engineering & IT

Pollution charge is designed to provide an incentive for producers to reduce pollution and improve the pollution control efficiency. Most developed countries in the world has enacted the polluter pay principle to establish a policy about Water Pollution Control Fee. Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) plans to collect the Water Pollution Control Fee since 2004. After analyzing the pollution characteristics and treatment cost, Taiwan EPA has commenced to impose the Water Pollution Control Fee on the pollutants in wastewater discharged from the enterprises since May 1st 2015. 10 pollution items has been chosen to calculate the Water Pollution Control Fees, which are COD, SS, Pb, Ni, Cu, Hg, Cd, Cr, As, and CN- . The pollutant charge rates range from 0.02 to 1000 US dollar per kilogram. The paper would introduce the impact of Water Pollution Control Fee on Taiwan steel industry. Four study cases (including the cold rolling mill, stainless mill, bar & rod rolling mill, integrated steel plant) would illustrate how steelmakers operate their wastewater treatment facilities to reduce their pollution and payable fees. The less pollution that is discharged the less fee is paid. Since most steelmakers have efficiently treated their wastewater, they only have a little expense for Water Pollution Control Fee. One study case shows the payable fees in six month for a cold rolling mill could only be 68 USD dollar. However, if the cold rolling mill have committed a serious violation against Water Pollution Control Act, it would be punished and have a payable fee up to 6470 USD dollar.

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