Construction soil and rock management plans ensure environmental sustainability

At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Cho Jung-tai received a report from the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) on strategies to accelerate end-to-end management of surplus construction soil and rock. To safeguard sustainable land use, uphold environmental justice and curb illegal dumping practices by unscrupulous operators, the premier has approved an action plan for waste management and resource recycling, as well as a plan for the final disposal of surplus construction soil and rock. He expressed hope that the central and local governments will work hand in hand to achieve win-win outcomes for both industrial development and environmental protection.

Premier Cho further stated that the government will inventory final disposal sites across land, marine and port areas; promote source reduction and excavated soil reuse measures; improve methods for processing surplus soil and rock; direct transport and treatment operators to enhance oversight through technologies such as GPS tracking, satellite monitoring and aerial drone imaging; and strengthen law enforcement and inspections. These measures will enable end-to-end management and facilitate the effective circulation and proper utilization of surplus soil and rock.

Premier Cho noted that the current challenges in the disposal of construction soil and rock should be addressed pragmatically by identifying land suitable for temporary storage, so as to allow construction projects to proceed smoothly. Temporarily stored materials can then be allocated to large-scale projects where they are required. The premier directed the MOI to continue implementing its strategies, and called on all involved ministries and agencies to actively ensure that source reduction and earthwork balance measures are applied from the planning and design stage of projects under their jurisdiction. He also instructed the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Ministry of Economic Affairs to expedite land reclamation projects, and urged local governments to jointly establish public sites for temporary surplus soil and rock storage.