Prior to the Southern Star Project, both state-run companies had to have these solid wastes towed out to sea for dumping, or buried in landfills, which cost money and was increasingly problematic from an environmental standpoint. So glad are they to have the worry taken off their hands that they give all the material to the project for free.
南星計畫之前，中鋼和台電還得花運費把這些廢料運到海外拋放，或找地方填埋。隨著環保意識的提昇，廢料處理日益困難，有人願意「收容」，兩大國營事業自是如釋重負，全部免費奉送。