Progress of Japan's PCB Waste Elimination Plan - 2020s

Progress of Japan's PCB Waste Elimination Plan - 2020s

In the 2020s, about 13,000 tons of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste still remains in Japan, which was mainly used as insulators and coolants for transformers and capacitors by electric power companies such as Tokyo Electric Power Company and Kansai Electric Power Company from the 1960s to 1970s. However, its toxicity was widely recognized after the Kanemi oil disease incident, and its production and use were banned in 1972. However, since PCBs do not break down naturally and remain in the environment for more than 100 years, a large amount of PCB waste is still stored in various parts of Japan.

Plans are underway to eliminate all PCB waste by 2027. In particular, Japan Environmental Safety Corporation (JESCO) of Kitakyushu City is taking the lead in the detoxification of PCB waste through high-temperature incineration. This high-temperature incineration technology burns PCBs at temperatures of approximately 1,200°C or higher to render them harmless. Since dioxin is generated during incineration, advanced purification equipment has been installed at the treatment facilities and strict emission control is in place.

PCB waste is processed at JESCO treatment facilities located in Aomori, Osaka, and other areas throughout Japan, but there are differences in the amount of waste processed in each region, and delays in the processing schedule have become a problem in some areas. There are also concerns about the risk of illegal disposal and improper storage. For example, there have been reports in the past that some companies have neglected their storage obligations and have not properly managed their waste, so it will be necessary to further strengthen the monitoring of storage conditions.

In addition, new technologies are being considered to replace conventional high-temperature incineration in order to further improve the efficiency of detoxification of PCBs. To achieve total elimination of PCBs by 2027, such technological innovations and the enhancement of a nationwide treatment system are indispensable.