Illegal Waste Dumping in a Forest Area of Yubari City, Hokkaido (Late 1990s–2001)

Illegal Waste Dumping in a Forest Area of Yubari City, Hokkaido (Late 1990s–2001) Approximately 300,000 tons of waste were illegally dumped in a forest area of Yubari City, Hokkaido, sparking a major social controversy. The waste consisted primarily of construction debris (approximately 200,000 tons) and industrial waste (approximately 100,000 tons), and asbestos and heavy metals were detected in some of it. Because the vast mountainous area was used for dumping, it took time for the issue to be discovered, and it came to light in 2000 following a report from a local resident. A total of approximately 20 billion yen was required for cleanup, with the national government covering 12 billion yen, Hokkaido Prefecture 6 billion yen, and private companies 2 billion yen. Measures such as the installation of surveillance cameras and amendments to laws were implemented to strengthen efforts to prevent illegal dumping and protect the environment. This incident served as a catalyst for improvements in environmental policy.