FPG moved quickly to clarify the situation, and later stated that there had indeed been deficiencies in the selection of the company to which it had contracted disposal of the waste. It also assumed responsibility for shipping the waste back to Taiwan, where it is now stored on a temporary site near Kaohsiung harbor. But despite these actions, FPG's image as a pragmatic and responsible company has been severely tarnished.
台塑雖然緊急「消毒」，事後自陳招標代清除業者的作業過程的確有疏失，並已負起責任將汞汙泥運回暫存於高雄港外，但是台塑務實穩健的形象仍然大為受損。