Aomori and Iwate Industrial Waste Illegal Dumping Issue - February 2004

Aomori and Iwate Industrial Waste Illegal Dumping Issue - February 2004

The issue of large-scale illegal dumping of industrial waste has emerged, focusing on the border area between Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture and Kuji City in Iwate Prefecture. A total of 876,000 cubic meters of waste was illegally dumped, making it the largest case of its kind in Japan. The dumped waste includes plastics, metal scraps, waste oil, and hazardous heavy metals, raising concerns about environmental contamination, particularly affecting the groundwater.

In response, the Ministry of the Environment has approved the removal plan jointly formulated by Aomori and Iwate Prefectures, initiating a project that will take 10 years to remove the waste and restore the environment. The total project cost is approximately 94.2 billion yen, with Aomori Prefecture covering 43.4 billion yen, Iwate Prefecture 22.1 billion yen, and the national government providing 28.7 billion yen in subsidies. This plan involves landfill restoration, groundwater purification, and the removal of contaminated soil.

This illegal dumping incident poses significant risks to the ecosystem and the health of residents throughout the Tohoku region. In Kuji City, for example, lead and cadmium exceeding safety standards have been detected in the groundwater, threatening the safety of drinking water. Several companies specializing in waste disposal, including major firms like DOWA Eco-System and Fujita, are collaborating in this effort, providing technical support for the removal operations.